The weekend is almost here

And it's been a long week at that! After all, I worked two days last week, and now I have to work 5??? In a row???? Ugh...
Tomorrow is a short day though, as we're off for an afternoon of team-building...bowling. The last time I bowled was the last time we did this as a team-building event, roughly 4 or 5 years ago. It'll be fun...we're bowling 3 lanes. One 5 pin (which I can do), one 10 pin (which I can't!) and a half of each in wacky style (eyes closed, wrong arm, etc.)...the downside to all of this?? "Lunch" is being provided...on the menu - pizza, chicken wings, spring rolls, deep-fried cheese, etc. I'm guessing the only vegetable to make an appearance will be the tomato sauce on the pizzas and the zucchini hidden in the deep-fried batter!!! And since I have to go and help set up, I won't have an opportunity to run before. But wait, it gets better...immediately after bowling is over, I get to rush home, change into my pretty party clothes and go to our Christmas party! At least the food there will be awesome (big hotel downtown that does a fabulous spread every year) and there will be dancing after dinner. I am going stag...I've always taken either someone that used to work for us, or a girlfriend or my gay friend, and I just decided to strike out on my own this year. I do like men...they just don't appear to like me back! Wait till they see me in my party finery though!
Trainer Josh kicked our butts again today...ankle is actually a little sore from the running, and it really hates lunges. But we did a lot of upper body today, which is good, because my butt is still killing me from Tuesday, but could be bad if I can't lift my glass of wine to my lips tomorrow night!!!
Breakfast was a glass of milk...I know, Cardinal Rule #1 - always eat breakfast. But I went to weigh-in today, since I will have no desire to get up at the crack of stupid to go to a meeting on Saturday, and I just can't make myself eat before I get on the scale. I've been doing this for a very long time, and old habits are hard to break. Snack (at the meeting) was a piece of cheese, and lunch was from Opa. I heart Opa...good, fast Greek food. I had the chicken souvlaki, with rice, potato, whole wheat pita (they offer that now), Greek salad and a side of tzatziki. It was yummy. Tried to have a red delicious apple for afternoon snack (from our healthy snack basket) but it was the foulest thing I have ever bitten into. Disgusting! One bite and threw it away...
Dinner was KD and relish. I wanted something fast after Boot Camp, and quite frankly, I like it!
I have my outfit all ready for bowling tomorrow - we're the Split Personalities, so I've got a man's bowling shirt, hat and chest hair, to go along with my skirt, lacy leggings and cute socks. The other lady on my team is going as half goth, half pop-princess, one guy bought a wig and he's trying to be half lady/half guy, and I'm not sure what the last member is doing, but it should be good. He has quite the sense of humour. I've already put the camera in my purse, so I should have some good photos for you all Saturday.
Later,

Tuesday update

Got the phone call at 10 am this morning - "come get me"...the hospital, in their infinite wisdom, decided that a 77 year old pneumonia patient with emphysema was fine enough to go home! Oy... It was a good thing that I had my breakfast already (1 c Kashi squares, 1 c unsweetened almond milk, 1 c strawberries), as here's how the morning went:
- leave the office and walk home
- jump in the car and drive the 12+ km to Mom & Dad's
- switch to their vehicle (it's a Jeep, so much easier to get my dad in and out of, rather than my two-door sports car!)
- circle the parking garage looking for a place to park...even with the freaking handicapped sticker, we still couldn't find anything close.
- wait forever for the elevator, only to have my mother say (as the doors open) "we should have just taken the stairs"...oy...
- get to Dad's room, help him get dressed, get his last minute meds, prescriptions and assorted other goodies and start to haul him, my mother, a wheel chair, two oxygen tanks, overnight bag and jacket to the car.
- leave him and my mother at the front doors and run to the car with an armload of crap.
- circle the hospital, looking for a spot to pull over at the door to load up the parents.
- load up said parents.
- drive to their home (with 'eagle-eyes' Dad watching my driving skills like a hawk...your welcome, by the way!)
- drop Mom off in the front so she can go in the house and unlock the back door (easier for Dad to get to). Stop the car and redirect to HER OWN HOUSE!!! OMG!!!!
- drive around back, and get Dad unloaded - "I'm fine and make it myself" - never, ever pay attention to those words from an elderly parent...I turned around to take the jeep to the garage, and THUD!!! There's my father, in a heap in the flower bed! At least he fell left and not right, otherwise it would have been a 3 foot drop to hard cement!
- he wants to sit and recover from the fall, so I take the jeep to the garage and bring everything out to the house, and then go get Dad. For a very skinny man, he's kind of heavy! Got him into the house and settled, and after I was assured that nothing was broken, or there weren't any more war wounds, I jump back in my car and drive 12+ km home.
- walk back to work in a freaking wind storm!
Picking my dad up took 3.5 hours...wow. Oh, and where were my brothers or their respective spouses????? Relaxing somewhere, I'm sure!
By the time I got back to work, I was so hungry I couldn't even wait the 2.5 minutes to heat up a bowl of soup, so I caved and bought the chicken quesidilla. It was good, and the people at the deli know me enough to give me less rice and more salad. Still full later in the afternoon, but I also had a treat of Liberte Coconut yogurt and some fresh pineapple. OMG that's good stuff!
Left work at normal time, as I had another Boot Camp session - still outside, as I am completely off limits! But the wind had died down, and I thought it was a nice day to work outside. And work we did!!! Trainer Josh really put us through some moves today. There was this old Asian man and his very young grandson (I assume, of course) who decided that he was going to do everything us crazy people were doing. It was so freaking cute...I wish I had a camera with me. He was adorable, especially when he tried to do donkey kicks and push-ups!
Came home and whipped together some bison (extra lean, from the farmer's market) meatballs, which I baked at a high temp, and tomato sauce (1 can diced tomatoes along with Epicure dried green peppers, toasted onion, roasted garlic, chili garlic sea salt and 4-pepper blend. Add some dried basil and oregano, some tomato paste, capers, balsamic vinegar and evoo. Let it all stew while the meatballs cook, toss in some cooked pasta, the meatballs and top with some fresh grated Parmesan. Yum!
Okay...I'm heading to bed early. I'm beat from all the walking today (to and from work 4 times, for crying out loud), and now Boot Camp. That and it's pitch black outside at 8 pm!
Have a great night,
Later,

Quick update

- Dad is doing better, but not sure when he's getting sprung. Phones to tell me that my mother is having a fit and crying and I should call her...I call her, and she says "what??"...sigh. I'm too old for this!
- packed breakfast and lunch to work, but for whatever reason I was still h.u.n.g.r.y! So I went downstairs to our deli, where they had some lonely looking slices of Greek pizza left. I asked for one and got two (nice deli man!)...loads of veggies, and the crust was on the thin side, so I didn't feel too guilty inhaling them.
- breakfast, by the way, was a bowl of Kashi squares and unsweetened almond milk - forgot my banana. Lunch was leftover salmon and rice, and some green salad. Snack was an apple and a small yogurt with 1/3 c All Bran.
- walked to my chiropractor (about a km from work) and then back past home to my vets, to pick up more insulin for George. Figure I walked about 5km total after work, and I also walked another 3.5km at lunch. Man, that felt good! However, I did over do it after work, and now my ankle is reminding me that I must ease into things!
- dinner was my cheater salmon chowda. One can cream of potato soup, 1 small can salmon, milk, Epicure Bacon Potato topper. Mix all together and heat through. Yummy!
- observing a very odd anniversary this weekend...the end of a long term friendship that had become extremely toxic to me. It's been 1 year already. Wow...time flies when you have no regrets!
- had to move a bunch of old furniture that some kind soul dumped behind my building earlier this evening. Calling for Small Haul to come and take it away (for a price, of course, which is so not fair to my building, but what do you do?) but I have to pile it in a central place for them to collect. There was an entertainment unit, futon and frame, bed frame, box spring and mattress - both queen size. And then there were the four 31kg (68 pounds!) buckets of Spackle or whatever that I had to haul from the doorway to the back. A distance of about 20 to 30 feet. Yes, I hauled 273 pounds of crap down the sidewalk!!! Good thing my daddy didn't raise no girly-girl!!! But if I ever catch the person who left all this stuff...pow - to the moon, Alice...to the moon!!
- That's it for me. Pleasant dreams everyone.
Later,

Daddy update

So my Dad has pneumonia. Not sure how or where he got it from, since he never, ever leaves the house, but at least he's at the hospital getting the care he needs. He does look better than last time around, so hopefully he'll kick this fast and be home. His day nurse came in to tell us what was up, and she looks like she's not taking any guff from the old man...good for her!!! Mom is funny though...she wonders when he'll come home and then bitches about it when he's there. Guess 52+ years of living with the same dude becomes habit forming!
Went to the Farmer's Market (took my camera, and then completely forgot to take photos...typical!), and after a lovely lunch of cabbage roll, perogies, bratwurst, sauerkraut and steamed veg (I got a potato, cauliflower and carrots), we went shopping. I came home with Pink Lady apples (about freaking time!), zucchini, ground Bison, fresh basil, tomatoes, Chipotle Orange sauce, Butter Chicken sauce, whole wheat pita, feta and kalamata olives. Did enjoy a snack of pink lady apple with some Imperial cheese spread on. Ate it before I could take a photo!

Dinner tonight was a piece of salmon marinated in said orange sauce, with brown rice 'pilaf' (cooked brown rice in Epicure Vegetable Bouillon, which made it look like a pilaf when it was done) and salad greens with sun-dried tomato & black olive vinaigrette.

Still have rice and salmon left over for lunch tomorrow. The orange marinade was perfect...it was slightly sweet, slightly spicy, with just the right amount of orange bitterness to offset. Quite delish.

All right...it's 8pm, and I'm thinking chill time. Although I'm not sure where I'll be lounging!

Later,

Sunday morning already...

Hmmm...last weekend felt much longer. Oh, that's right...I took Monday and Tuesday off, and with Wednesday a Stat day, I enjoyed a loverly 5-day weekend. If only that kind of work schedule could support my current income! That would be sweet!!

Returned to Boot Camp on Thursday, only to find out that due to legal issues, I am not allowed inside the building where we work out (I'm not staff!), so we had to move it outside to the local park. Which I'm fine with, as I prefer working out outside, but the other ladies weren't quite prepared for that. It'll be interesting to see what happens on Tuesday. Felt it in my arms and shoulders again, but the best part was the running. to quote Forrest Gump..."Ah was r.u.n.n.e.n!!"...first time since the first week in October. I was thrilled!!! Kept it nice and slow, and both Trainer Josh and I kept very close eyes on my ankle. Walked like a normal person on Friday, so it's all good!

After coffee with the girls yesterday, H-woman and I headed up to Canmore to get a pedicure. We went back to the place we went to after Melissa's, because they were so nice and did such an awesome job. How awesome? Well, the pedi done on the 25th of September was finally cleaned off and redone YESTERDAY!!! No chipping, no fading (and I had a really dark colour on), just some regrowth. It was fabulous...so back we went. We arrived a little late (oops...need to plan that better next time - hit every light coming out of Calgary, and I just don't drive like a maniac anymore on the highways), but the ladies were very professional and got the job done. We'll be going back I'm sure in January. Or, if the Lottery Gods could just come through for me (I pray to them every day!), I could finally buy a place and live in Canmore full time...that would sweet!

Headed briefly into Banff (bought a Park Pass last weekend, so we're good for a year) to go to the Rocky Mountain Soap Company's open house. They were introducing their Christmas mix of Mandarin Orange and Candy Cane. Didn't care much for Candy Cane, but the orange is amazing...slightly spicy and very orangy. Came home with a bar of shaving soap (peppermint and clay), the Mandarin Orange Sugar Scrub, a Mandarin Orange chap stick, and then our free gift of another chap stick and the Mandarin Orange soap. It's all natural stuff, and although my sinuses can go crazy in places like that (Bath and Body Works is hard...), it's not so overwhelming in there.

Shared a plate of nachos in the Rose & Crown...Banff must be the Nacho Capital of Canada...man, they were good! Proper ratio of cheese to chips to peppers and other vegs. Yum, yum. yum. Back into Calgary - even though it was 6:30 in the evening, with the mountains and nightfall, it may as well been midnight!! Pitch black on the highway - and considering, sadly, because of unfortunate incidents in the past, you have to watch for PEDESTRIANS (yes, I said pedestrians, not wildlife) on the highway, it makes for a slightly unnerving night drive. Made it home safely.

Dropped H. off, and then had to go get my mom, and take her to see my dad at the hospital. They called 911 yesterday for him (he has COPD, and has been struggling of late) which I am happy about. It's probably been a good solid 6 months since he's even left the house, and means he hasn't been seeing a doctor. Stubborn old coot!!! And then people wonder where I get it from...anyway, he's where he needs to be and they're keeping him for a few days. Which is good...they can get his meds sorted out, and try to come up with a plan that doesn't include him sitting in his lazy boy, waiting for death. Heading there later today. I have to drive mom, as her Alzheimer's makes it difficult for her to drive to new areas - she gets lost and she's the passenger. Remember how I said I had no desire to have children??? Well, I have two...in their 70's. You will also notice that neither of my brothers are getting these phone calls, and are on driver duty, etc. I'm just sayin...

Called my older brother, and found out he's got his own issues to deal with. He was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis (man, my family is falling apart!) years ago, when the disease attacked his lungs. He's now scheduled for an MRI next week, as the doctors now think it's moved to his heart. Crap... This is not good news, as I don't know if he's a good candidate for heart/lung transplant. Double crap... We'll wait to see what the doctors say, but as is in my brother's fashion, I'll have to follow up with him, as he shares nothing!

Okay...so I've started out a Sunday in fine form. Going to head to the Farmer's Market later, to stock up on fresh fruit and veggies for the week. Planning out my meals, and committing to journalling this week. I was up slightly (1.4) yesterday at meeting, but that's just evening out the big loss the week before, thanks to the flu. However, I know I can improve in the journalling department, so that's my plan for this week. Going to weigh in early, on Thursday, as it's my Christmas party on Friday, and I will have no desire to leap out of bed at 6 am to go to a 7 am weigh-in on Saturday!!

Finishing my latte and a bowl of Kashi Wheat squares, banana and Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze (love it on cereal!). Going to get dressed and ready, as H. and I are aiming to head out about 11.

Hope this finds everyone happy and healthy...

Later,

Starting to feel it...

Muscles that is. Feeling it in my hamstrings, shoulders and back. Yay Boot Camp and Trainer Josh!

Thought I'd share some photos of H-woman's Epicure party - she's well on her way to a huge shopping spree, courtesy of her friends who attended. Somehow though I ended up with the leftovers (I ALWAYS leave them with the hostess, usually to take to work the next day and therefore make more sales, but alas, H. is on vacation right now) which I have incorporated into my lunches/dinners. Last night, for example, was some soft tortillas with the nacho cheese dip...lunch was leftover spinach dip and the loaf it was in. Today, I mixed the rest of the crab dip (there wasn't a lot left of that!) with some chopped artichoke hearts, spread it on toast and sprinkled it with a bit of parm. Yum! Going to fill on veggies tonight though, as I'm making a healthy Pad Thai.

1) the spread - Crab dip, wine & pepper jellies, nacho cheese dip, spinach dip.

2) Extraordinary Cheese Dip in our non-stick frying pan - to freaking die for!!!!

3) Orange Cranberry Biscotti, dipped in our Belgium White Chocolate

4) Our Belgium Milk Chocolate...oh, and some healthy, fresh fruit to dip in it!

Went for some retail therapy today...I have been told for weeks that my work clothes are "too big" and falling off (which is not a bad thing!), so off I went to my favourite store, Reitmans. Not sure who picked this fall's colours though...80's Teal??? Seriously??? Oh well, I still managed to come home with 3 new pair of pants (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their comfort fit pants!) all in Tall (again, LOVE THAT!), a nice red tank top, black sweater and grey cardigan (in medium, thank you very much!). Then, wandering through the mall (after an extremely disappointing visit to Payless - really, women with big feet like shoes too...I don't care if your store is "small"), I passed Le Chateau, where the little strapless number in the window caught my eye...and my MasterCard! My Christmas party is next Friday night (OMG, that's just over a week away), and while I had fully intended to wear something from years past, I just like how this felt and looked. Oh yeah...Boot Camp has paid off big time! The burgundy pumps that I have will look hot with this! Really going to concentrate on the arms and back this week - try to tone things up a bit more.

That's it for me...going to spend some time thinking about those men and women who have died so that we have the right to blog freely and without fear of prosecution. I'm sure I'll be crying later, especially when I hear Taps. Always tears a hole in my heart...

Later,

Return to Boot Camp

I DID IT!!!! I resumed a Boot Camp class tonight and IT.FELT.GREAT!!! Okay, so I felt like puking and can't believe how much strength and endurance I've lost in the last 5 weeks, but I so heart the sweating and grunting. It's moved indoors, which I'm not a fan of (remember, I sweat hard, so outside in the fall and winter rocks!) but Trainer Josh had all sorts of new toys and ideas to get the cardio up, even indoors. He's also so awesome, as he's very concerned about my body and it can/can not do. We determined I was okay on the stairs (up and down - great cardio) but could not do the step-ups (onto a chair) so did squats instead. And skipping rope was out of the question (ankle says WTF??), so I concentrated on lunges instead. We worked with resistance bands for upper body (OMG!!!), so I'm pretty sure I won't even be able to comb my hair tomorrow! Can't wait for Thursday!!
Came home and nibbled on some salsa, low-fat sour cream and some of the leftover nacho cheese dip, with whole wheat tortillas. Then I had a bowl of dilly tomato soup (mix one can cream of tomato soup, milk, Epicure Lemon Dilly dip blend and a can of diced tomatoes).
One more day off (took a 5-day weekend) and then back to the grind. Going to start going for walks (just walks) at lunch as well, although I do need new runners, as I'm currently over-compensating between my runners (built for pronators) and orthotics. Hence the very screwed up knees and ankles over the weekend.
I'm hitting the couch, kids...it's been a long day of running around, and now I just want to chill.
Later,