Good thing I'm seeing the chiropractor tomorrow

I can't believe my lower back still hurts, but then again, I hit 46 and everything appears to be falling apart! And good news...it's supposed to snow tomorrow and Thursday and Friday and so on, and so on and so on. Could have sworn that Weather Dude said December, January and February were supposed to be drier and warmer than usual in Alberta. So far December has been -26C, and 8" of snow. Hmmmm...something appears to be amiss.

This is what I have to wear just to walk to work...hiking boots, warm socks, thermal leggings under dress pants, long tee under sweater, down coat under fleece coat, scarf, toque (rocking the Runner Girl logo!) and Epicure gloves - which actually rock. They are double-lined, so my fingers have been the toastiest part of me.

Had to show off my cutie-pa-tootie, hiding in a box...he loves boxes, and with all the Epicure orders coming in, I've got tons for him to choose from.

Went to Spain for supper tonight. Picture doesn't do it justice, but it was quite tasty. Toss some boneless, skinless chicken thighs with S&P, flour and Epicure Spanish Smoked Paprika (or regular paprika, if that's all you've got...) and then brown in a splash of evoo. Once nice and browned, remove from pan and add one diced red bell pepper and some diced onion. Cook till soft, and scrape brown bits off bottom of pan (I used the Epicure wok, which is stick-free and AWESOME), and then add some green olives with pimento, 1 can diced tomatoes, a cup or so of chicken stock, some red wine vinegar,some sherry and a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder. Put the chicken back in the pot. Blitz together a clove (or more) of garlic, some fresh bread crumbs (I used a half of a thin-bun), parsley and toasted almond slices. Stir that into the pot (it thickens and flavours) and then let simmer till the chicken in cooked through, about 45 minutes. I ate it over whole wheat egg noodles, but it would also be awesome on rice or orzo, I would think. Very delicious. I need to try to figure out how to add a recipe page to this blog...maybe that will be my project for the weekend.

Okay...I'm off to clean up the kitchen, pack up breakfast and lunch for tomorrow, and then hit the sack.

Take care, you bloggers down east, as I hear the storms are headed your way. Stay dry and warm where ever you are.

Later,

My aching back...seriously!

Went to adjust the heat and my lower back totally seized up! Granted, my thermometer is down near the floor, on the heat vents, but still - holy crap!!! I thought I was going to be stuck down there for the rest of the night. Managed to haul myself back up to a standing position (and strike a pose of victory!!) and went hunting for the hot water bottle.
It was a brisk walk into work this morning...-26C before the wind chill. Yikes!! So on went the long-johns, dress pants, long-sleeved tee, sweater, down jacket, scarf, fleece over top of the jacket, toque, hiking boots and gloves. The real key is to get dressed and out the door quickly, or you overheat and that makes you even colder outside!! The walk to work wasn't bad though, with just my cheeks chilly. See, as an asthmatic I have a real issue with things covering my mouth, even scarves for warmth. So my neck and chin stay warm, but my face is cold. It's hard to be me!
Amazed everyone managed to make it into work this morning - there are neighbourhoods with 6' drifts out there...freaky to see pictures on the news of city buses stuck and half buried in the snow.
As we're to get more snow this week, and I'm just plain scared to drive on the roads with all the crazy drivers out there, I decided to bite the bullet (and empty the bank account) and get winter tires. Sad that they'll be worth more than the car is (my baby is 20 years old!), but I'll certainly feel better driving with them. Trouble is I have to get to the tire place (I go to Okotoks, which is about 20 minutes south of Calgary, but I like the people who run the shop) Friday afternoon, during which another storm is called for. Why can't it wait till I'm driving back, all confident with my snappy new tires?!?! Fingers crossed it holds off.
After bragging to everyone that I can handle my caffeine, I pushed the limits myself last night and lay awake, tossing and turning till 1:30. Oy...right now I can barely keep my eyes open, so I'm heading to bed shortly. Dinner in my belly (chili from the freezer, with leftover guac and some cheese on it), warm back from the hot water belly, and Advil for the pain are combining, and it's all I can do to keep my eyes open right now!
Stay warm and stay safe.
Later,

Oh, my aching back, Part Deux!

Must remember to stretch after shovelling the walk! My back is killing me today...as is my head. Now before you all blame the Baileys, I didn't even finish the one ounce I had in my coffee yesterday. Not sure why my head hurt so much, but it was pounding before I went to bed, when I went to bed, when I woke up to feed the kids at 5:30 and when I got up at 8:30. Popped some Advil, slugged back a coffee (my doctor has recommended caffeine with the painkillers - in fact one med I took in college when I had chronic migraines was 90-some % caffeine), and got going on getting ready for the Epicure party I was headed to in the afternoon.
Still dang cold out there, but the car started fine (forgot to plug her in) and the roads (once I got off the side streets, that is) were mostly clean and dry. However, I feel for anyone that was parked along side a plowed road...most cars were buried up past the bottom of the doors. I think some people are in for a rude awaking tomorrow morning when they head out to go work! Again, thrilled that I walk!
Dropped off some stuff at work after the Epicure party (sales are awesome so far...envisioning another $1,000 party, which means $250 for moi!) and then popped into Safeway to pick up some quick stuff for dinner. My kitchen was a total disaster and I had no desire to cook anything. Besides, I had a tub of guacamole leftover from the party - just needed some tortillas to dip in it. Somehow managed to come home with a bag of whole wheat tortillas, 2 cans of diced tomatoes, some artichoke spinach dip, 2 frozen pizzas and yet another recipe book. How does that freaking happen??? Came home, ate the dip, the guac, tortillas (just two of them) and burnt the pizza. Did a load of dishes and 3 loads of laundry, spread salt on the sidewalk (not enough snow to shovel but enough to be a pain) and watched the season finale of Amazing Race. One last 'to do' on the list and then it's bed, and back to the grind of work.
Where did the weekend go???
Later,

Oh, my aching back!

Wow...normally it takes me 30 minutes to shovel the walks here. About 50' down the middle of our buildings, than about another 40-50' down the front. Another 30' or so down the back to the parking areas. Today, with 3' drifts, and about 8" of snow piled up everywhere else, it took me two and a half hours!!!! I am freaking beat!!
Here's some before and after.

Drifts were about 3' high here...not sure how or where I was going to move the snow!

Once people walk on the snow, it melds with the cement. It took going at it the a scraper first, then going over it again with the shovel. Exhausting. And I almost took out an old lady who asked "why haven't you finished yet??"...OMG - it's a good thing I had just put the shovel down, because one blow...that's all it would have taken! And no one would have found the body till the snow melts...I could have denied all involvement. It's a good thing my mother raised me better then that...

The professionals showed up next door at the same time that I was out there. Yes, the building right beside (and attached to mine, which is the one on the left) uses a snow team (which charges more than I make as resident manager, so now I'm really interested in what the babe next door makes!) and they are very good about knowing where the two properties end.

This is as far as they shovel out front, and down the middle, they do their side. Three guys with shovels had their job done in no time. Sigh...wishing I could afford it, I tell you!

This is my gauge...right now it's piled up to my chest (about 4'), but I use this to tell how bad of a winter it was. Last spring, I think it hit the 10' mark, as it snowed practically every day! I think we've seen the last of the snow, but it's going to get COLD next week. The highs are only -20C or so for the next week - funny...temperature I speak metric (except for cooking) and distance I speak standard (except for speed). I am a conversion child, as Canada converted to metric when I was in grade 3 (1971/72 - yes, I am THAT old) as I remember being taught how to measure things and make the conversions.
Anyway, I'm back inside now, thoroughly enjoying some Baileys in my vanilla coffee right now. It is tasting like more! Didn't go to weight watchers this morning (figured I'm up about a half a pound anyway), as the roads are just nasty out there, and the 11km drive would probably have seemed like a 100 by the time we got there. I hope today everything gets cleaned up, as I have an Epicure party to host tomorrow. Should be fine by then, although I should go plug in the car.

For those of you confused by that statement, no I do not have an electric car. In western Canada, where it gets bitterly cold, we have block heaters in our vehicles that need to be plugged in. This keeps the block warm enough to start, and hopefully prevents it from cracking and therefore needing a new engine after a cold spell! I remember a coworker from the Toronto area very confused when the rental company told her the extension cord was in the trunk of the car - she had no idea why they would tell her that, and then was even more confused when the car wouldn't start the next day!

Trying to decide what to have for dinner, although after "playing" in the snow all afternoon, I'm thinking warm and creamy...I bought some gnocchi, so I'm going to research some recipes and see what I can come up with.

Hoping the Halibloggers had an awesome run down east for the Santa Shuffle today. I'll be thinking of you all when I do the Resolution Run on New Year's Eve, my first real run since Melissa's at the end of September.

Later,

Brrrrrr...

Wow...winter arrived with some serious 'tude today in Calgary!! Not sure if it's officially a blizzard (has to be so much snowfall, winds and cold enough, and it has to last consistently for 3 hours or more (thank you, Wikipedia)), but I think we're there! It's supposed to keep snowing and blowing all night, although it's not that cold, really. It's currently -5C with a -16C windchill. Dressed properly and it's not that bad. Just not prepared to go out on the roads. So no weigh-in tomorrow, that's for sure! I just don't drive enough during the week to risk driving in really poor road conditions on the weekend. Everyone seemed to leave work early today, and all the roads downtown were freaking parking lots, and most of the highways out of town were closed at one point or another. Again, I'm so happy I walk.
Got home, decided to tackle the sidewalks tomorrow (it hasn't stopped snowing at all), inhaled a half a box of Corn Pops (the new higher fibre ones, though - like that helps!), some of the Edamame Hummus that Angie spoke of (O.M.FREAKING.G, it's good!! I agree with Angie...it totally rocks. And that meant a second trip to Superstore for me, and I hate going there!!) with some melba toast and now I'm having a cup of French Vanilla coffee. Not sure if that constitutes dinner, or if I'm even hungry for real food. Time will tell.
Heading back to the couch, to catch up on some TV and maybe have some dinner.
If you are anywhere in Alberta (storm is hitting the whole province), stay safe and warm inside. Everyone else...same goes for you too! And good luck to the Hallibloggers running the Santa Shuffle for the Salvation Army tomorrow. Think warm thoughts and have a blast!
Later,

Playing in the snow

Yes, I went to Boot Camp tonight...in the dark... temp around -11 C (or 12 F) and snow on the ground. It was grand!! There were 8 of us that showed up for the 5 pm class, as Josh let his 6 pm class decide if they wanted to come early. He showed up in multiple layers with his thermos of tea! We at least get to run around and warm up...he gets cold standing there, telling us to work harder!

Started with a run...this is seriously the longest and furthest that I have run since October 2nd. It felt good, and while the ankle is a little stiff, so far so good even now. I tried out a new pair of runners that work with my orthotics, instead of against them, so we'll see how the legs react in the morning. That's always the big test! After the run to warm up, we hit the circuit - high knees, flies and overhead extensions, weighted squats, lunges (hold squat for me) and thrusters with bands. Two minutes at each station and switch. Then we switched it up a bit, changing it to step ups, seated rows and lat pull-downs, weighted squats/lunges, and push-ups. I think I will be lucky if I can get my coffee to my lips tomorrow!

Came home and whipped up a quick stir-fry of every veggie I have (feeling like I haven't been getting my fill these days), so into the wok went red & green pepper, carrots, celery, zucchini, snap peas, water chestnuts, mushrooms and broccoli. Add some Udon noodles and stir-fry sauce, and yum, yum, yum. Meanwhile, I grilled up a piece of salmon with the President's Choice Korean BBQ sauce. Double yum! Of course to get this sauce meant that I had to go to a Superstore. That's the only place that sells PC in western Canada (that I'm aware of) and I HATE shopping at Superstore. Okay, so I love walking up and down the aisles, looking at all the cool stuff (and I did come home with way more than I intended) but the reason God invented 16-year-old boys is so that they can bag my freaking groceries!!!! I hate bagging groceries...that's why I never took it up as a career. I suck at it! But I digress. Doesn't my dinner look yummy? Since I ate all the salmon, but have plenty of stir-fry left over, I'm marinating a piece of tofu in the BBQ sauce, which I'll grill up before I go to bed tonight. It'll be awesome with lunch tomorrow.

Doubtful that there will be a Boot Camp tomorrow, or even before Christmas it seems. Trainer Josh indicated that the group will most likely post-pone till the weather gets nicer. That or till I bail on them, and they can safely work out inside! Which I'll most likely be doing...I'll just check with Josh as to whether he's running his evening groups on the other nights, and drop into those. I just got back into this, and don't want to bail immediately. Not before I see some results again, that is.

Okay, must clean up the kitchen and head for bed.

Later,

Update

This is my cutie-patootie great-niece...she is 10 months old, and unfortunately looks like she was in a bar fight! She went 10 rounds with the family dog (hers) so I can only hope the dog looks worse!!

It was a day of no today. No Boot Camp (the others are wimps!), no new job (details to follow), no chocolate in my house for me to eat - which is a good thing!

The good news is that my ankle and tendons appear to be healing...I don't have to return to the chiro for a whole 10 days, which considering I was there twice a week not too long ago is quite good. Walked home in the latest storm to hit Calgary (again, happy that I walk!) and reminded myself to pull out a scarf for today...my neck was cold!!! After the long walk, I had a quick snack of whole grain chips and salsa, and then went out and shovelled the walks. That was basically my cardio and workout for the day.

Today was day 1 of month end, so again, no running at lunch. Although we are doing well, and are right on schedule to finish our tasks by noon tomorrow. Then I get an email from one of the VP's asking to meet me regarding my recent job application. See, I work for a very large, national company and there was a Director's position that opened up, that I would like to transition into one day. I honestly didn't think I possessed everything they were looking for, so was very excited/nervous/shit-scared when we set the meeting! Sadly, it was to tell me that I didn't get it. But hey, they didn't have to do that at all, and I really appreciate the one-on-one face time with the VP. And as I explained, it was just as important to me that they know that I am looking to move up with the company, and this way they'll know my name. C. the VP said that I was very well known in the company by all sorts of people, and the feeling I got was that it was all very positive at that! Found out who got the job, and C. was right...he really is perfect for the position, so all the power to him. And when it's time for him to move on to a manager or such posting, I'll be there waiting...discussed job shadowing and other jobs that may help me get further ahead. Still, it was a very useful and interesting meeting and one that I will be sure to thank him for again tomorrow. After all, I plan on retiring from this company many, many years down the road from now and hopefully from a corner office!

The other ladies bailed on Boot Camp - "it's too cold and snowy"...hey, it's not my fault that we can't work out inside...okay, so technically it is, but I did offer to sign any waiver they wanted, but no. So I will go tomorrow night to Edworthy Park...somehow I envision that I will be working out at Edworthy a lot over the next 3 weeks, with the other ladies working out inside. What ever...I was going to go for a run when I got home, but I decided to pick up some groceries (10% Tuesday!) instead. Hauled home 3 bags full (remember, I walk!), so that was a good little bit of cardio too.

Dinner last night was outstanding...tossed cubed butternut squash, pecan pieces and maple syrup in a pan and baked till golden...O.M.G. that was GOOOOOOOD!! Just like pieces of candy, I tell you. Tried Epicure Oven Roast with some of the maple syrup on a piece of chicken, but that really didn't work out like I planned...didn't really enjoy it. Side was a sliced pepper.

Tonight was "cheater" clam chowder. Sweat off some diced celery and onion, add 1 can of drained & rinsed clams, 2 cans of cream of potato soup and a can of fat free evaporated milk. All that was missing was bacon - thought I had some in the freezer, but nope. Next time. Mix till heated through and enjoy. Have enough for lunch tomorrow too. Trying to make sure I pack breakfast and lunch every day, except maybe Fridays. However, I didn't have leftovers last night, so I bought today. The good news is our deli can't fry food, but the bad news is I'm still not in total control of what goes into the meals. Today was a Thai chicken salad, which was quite lovely, and extra heavy on the fresh veggies. I left most of the rice noodles at the bottom of the container.

'Kay...I'm heading off to bed. I'm also trying to get enough sleep, and know that I do poorly with that. So must stand up, shut off computer and go to bed...now...okay now...okay, really I mean it this time...now!

Later,