I got rid of something!
Six (6) bags of clothing and miscellaneous crap to Goodwill. Yay me, now I can go shopping! (Kidding!) But I didn't take a picture. It would have been a good one. Six white trash bags full, stuffed in the back of the Explorer.
Speaking of cars, we're in the market for a new-to-us truck. Something to pull the boat, haul kids and us at the same time, and maybe a load or two of gravel in the dump trailer. Oh yeah, and it has to have cruise control. We test drove one yesterday that didn't have cruise control. I know! How weird? Not only that, My Honey got the experience of his life at a Dealership.
Apparently the Dealership had hired a company (has anyone seen "The Goods"?) and they won't even tell you a price until you drive the car and "fall in love with it"? But wait! There's more, they have you sign a contract that you will buy the car if they can come up with an agreeable price. (They had no idea who they were dealing with.) My Honey signed the contract, but the price they quoted him was $4,000 above the blue book value (because he had researched it) which was not an "agreeable" price. The dealership was appalled! (Go figure.) My Honey 1, Dealership 0.
We'd rater go through a private seller anyway, and guess what? We might have found one. Same rig, one year older, less miles, full package (including cruise control) and a much more reasonable price. Yay for Craigslist!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Talking
I am kind of nervous thinking about "the August break". A month in pictures. An interesting way to capture my world, my feelings, my desires, my life. Of course I want to be king of organized about it, have a purpose each day, but that's not really the point is it? Just go with it!
Or maybe I will do A Thing A Day and take a picture of the thing a day I get rid of???
I've been kind of cooped up with a sick kid. Miss I came down with a fever on Tuesday evening (it was 104!) and then spent Wednesday feeling pretty bad.
She was hallucinating on Tuesday night, "Mama is that dog okay?"
"You see a dog?"
"Yeah, right there."
"Yeah honey, he's okay..."
Poor thing was dizzy on Wednesday morning "Mama, I can't hold on." And then this morning she actually spewed so I thought we'd be spending the day doing nothing again, but she ate some toast awhile ago, her fever is gone, she's getting her "laugh back" as she put it and asking where we are going to go today.
Originally the kids and I were going camping with DW and another family this weekend but my plans changed when Miss I was so sick. Bubba was totally disappointed this morning. Now, however ... maybe we will still go? Or at least head out there tomorrow to play and maybe spend one night?
About work. Night shift is going really good. I sure do like it. The busyness, working with new people, challenging myself. But some of those cops ... cranks! Mostly I don't let them get to me. Mostly I try to treat them nice so they will treat me nice. I had success on Tuesday night, I got a notoriously cranky, impatient cop to repeat himself when his radio was crappy and later he complimented me. Made. My. Night. The simple things.
Or maybe I will do A Thing A Day and take a picture of the thing a day I get rid of???
I've been kind of cooped up with a sick kid. Miss I came down with a fever on Tuesday evening (it was 104!) and then spent Wednesday feeling pretty bad.
She was hallucinating on Tuesday night, "Mama is that dog okay?"
"You see a dog?"
"Yeah, right there."
"Yeah honey, he's okay..."
Poor thing was dizzy on Wednesday morning "Mama, I can't hold on." And then this morning she actually spewed so I thought we'd be spending the day doing nothing again, but she ate some toast awhile ago, her fever is gone, she's getting her "laugh back" as she put it and asking where we are going to go today.
Originally the kids and I were going camping with DW and another family this weekend but my plans changed when Miss I was so sick. Bubba was totally disappointed this morning. Now, however ... maybe we will still go? Or at least head out there tomorrow to play and maybe spend one night?
About work. Night shift is going really good. I sure do like it. The busyness, working with new people, challenging myself. But some of those cops ... cranks! Mostly I don't let them get to me. Mostly I try to treat them nice so they will treat me nice. I had success on Tuesday night, I got a notoriously cranky, impatient cop to repeat himself when his radio was crappy and later he complimented me. Made. My. Night. The simple things.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Traditional
Last week's Sunday Creative word was "traditional." I finally got a picture edited (my goal is NOT to post one unless it's edited) and the link is closed. Oh well. I wanted to capture something traditionally vacation-y
I share the weekly word with Bubba. It is actually a good English language definition exercise. His first thought about traditional was off a bit, I don't remember exactly now. So we talked about it as I drank my morning coffee and gave him a few examples such as drinking my morning coffee. He picked up the little camera and took a picture of me and my morning coffee.
(that one was fun to edit!)
This week's word is "naked." There was a disclaimer to keep it clean, kids view her blog, but, there are many other directions to take that word. For instance, it just occurred to me that there is a mixed drink called "skip and go naked" maybe I will mix a batch and take some pictures? Served in mason jars, it's pretty photogenic I think! It could be a flower bud (naked, no petals), an organic garden (naked, no chemicals), a barren tree or field (naked after harvest), and then there is just plain old nekkie bums!
I might just use this one of my niece!
I share the weekly word with Bubba. It is actually a good English language definition exercise. His first thought about traditional was off a bit, I don't remember exactly now. So we talked about it as I drank my morning coffee and gave him a few examples such as drinking my morning coffee. He picked up the little camera and took a picture of me and my morning coffee.
(that one was fun to edit!)
This week's word is "naked." There was a disclaimer to keep it clean, kids view her blog, but, there are many other directions to take that word. For instance, it just occurred to me that there is a mixed drink called "skip and go naked" maybe I will mix a batch and take some pictures? Served in mason jars, it's pretty photogenic I think! It could be a flower bud (naked, no petals), an organic garden (naked, no chemicals), a barren tree or field (naked after harvest), and then there is just plain old nekkie bums!
I might just use this one of my niece!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
And I'm off
Back to work today. It was a very nice vacation.
We swam, we golfed, we boated (three times!!!) found a great little beach on the shady side of the river in the evenings and had picnics there twice. This morning it was on the SUNNY side so we had a great time and got a little burnt I think!
We did what the kids wanted; go to the park, fishing and see a movie. Such simple requests. We even did the touristy thing and went to Leavenworth where we had dinner and did putt-putt golf.
That was a fun day.
Good times :)
We swam, we golfed, we boated (three times!!!) found a great little beach on the shady side of the river in the evenings and had picnics there twice. This morning it was on the SUNNY side so we had a great time and got a little burnt I think!
We did what the kids wanted; go to the park, fishing and see a movie. Such simple requests. We even did the touristy thing and went to Leavenworth where we had dinner and did putt-putt golf.
That was a fun day.
Good times :)
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Mo' photography
the August break
I cannot figure out how to link a badge to my blog. So blond sometimes! I am sure it's easy, logical even, but NOOOOO, I can't figure the stinking thing out. But I am going to try Susannah's "the August break". Sounds interesting. I like how other photography challenges have gotten me out there, and more over EDITING my photos.
Join me, link the stinking badge to YOUR blog just to show me how easy it is!!
** I tried (again) I even followed the directions in the "help" file, no luck. I think it's actually the layout design. Every time I change that it gets messed up too. Too bad. **
**** Stinking thing! Oh well, I chose a neat-o new background. Thanks for the tip LSL, I tried doing it as a photo (great idea!) and the html link thing too... ****
(and then ... I figured it out! Thanks again for the tip LSL! You rock! *sigh* my hero)
I cannot figure out how to link a badge to my blog. So blond sometimes! I am sure it's easy, logical even, but NOOOOO, I can't figure the stinking thing out. But I am going to try Susannah's "the August break". Sounds interesting. I like how other photography challenges have gotten me out there, and more over EDITING my photos.
Join me, link the stinking badge to YOUR blog just to show me how easy it is!!
** I tried (again) I even followed the directions in the "help" file, no luck. I think it's actually the layout design. Every time I change that it gets messed up too. Too bad. **
**** Stinking thing! Oh well, I chose a neat-o new background. Thanks for the tip LSL, I tried doing it as a photo (great idea!) and the html link thing too... ****
(and then ... I figured it out! Thanks again for the tip LSL! You rock! *sigh* my hero)
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Staycation
We're on vacation this week. We chose to just stay home. It's been really nice, actually. We live in a great place, it's warm, there's water, golf, good restaurants, we have a pool, air conditioning and comfortable beds! Just like a hotel, only we don't have to drive there and back!
We tend to vacation in July each year around our anniversary and have spent many of these vacations on the Oregon coast where the weather is a crap shoot. It might be mild, it might be cool, but either way it isn't "summer weather" and we always come home saying "why did we leave THIS? The weather is perfect, we have everything we need and wouldn't have to drive there! People come HERE for vacation." So we tried it. We like it.
We have golfed, played in the pool, played at the park, spent some family time together, spent some couple time together, we're taking the boat out this evening for supper on the water, I have a massage scheduled for later this morning, and we're going to go see a movie this afternoon too.
True, it ain't no Wild Waves or Disneyland, but it's been nice. Casual. A slower-than-usual pace. I've liked it.
Another big bonus: babysitters are easy to come by!
We tend to vacation in July each year around our anniversary and have spent many of these vacations on the Oregon coast where the weather is a crap shoot. It might be mild, it might be cool, but either way it isn't "summer weather" and we always come home saying "why did we leave THIS? The weather is perfect, we have everything we need and wouldn't have to drive there! People come HERE for vacation." So we tried it. We like it.
We have golfed, played in the pool, played at the park, spent some family time together, spent some couple time together, we're taking the boat out this evening for supper on the water, I have a massage scheduled for later this morning, and we're going to go see a movie this afternoon too.
True, it ain't no Wild Waves or Disneyland, but it's been nice. Casual. A slower-than-usual pace. I've liked it.
Another big bonus: babysitters are easy to come by!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Results
Here are my official race results:
Swim 22:52.4 (1/2 mile in the oceanic Lake)
T1 4:38.9 (transition area; getting out of my wetsuit, getting my shoes and helmet on)
Bike 46:32.8 (13 miles)
T2 1:25.6 (changing out of helmet to running cap, getting out of transition area)
Run 40:46.8 (5K)
Final 1:56:16.5
I am happy I did it in under 2 hours, but disappointed the bike and run times are higher. Perspective: I did double the swim.
Last year's results:
(maybe I don't suck as much as I think ...)
Swim: 6:68.1 (1/4 mile)
T1: 3:13:6
Bike: 49:36.9 (13 miles - HEY, WOW, I did it faster this year!)
T2: 2:21:1
Run: 38:0:26 (5k)
Final: 1:40:1
What do you know, the bike time ISN'T higher. Yay me, thanks Arlberg for the loaner! Maybe I will buy that bike after all!
Likelihood of next year? On a scale of 1-10, today I am about a seven.
Am I sore? Nope, not like you would think. My back is sore which I think is from the bike, I should have adjusted the handlebars, but my legs? Nope. My neck is from looking up the whole time, keeping my eyes on the buoys. The rest of me? Not so much.
Do I feel like I pushed myself? I know I did. It was overwhelming, actually. Still working on that part of the story for you all.
Swim 22:52.4 (1/2 mile in the oceanic Lake)
T1 4:38.9 (transition area; getting out of my wetsuit, getting my shoes and helmet on)
Bike 46:32.8 (13 miles)
T2 1:25.6 (changing out of helmet to running cap, getting out of transition area)
Run 40:46.8 (5K)
Final 1:56:16.5
I am happy I did it in under 2 hours, but disappointed the bike and run times are higher. Perspective: I did double the swim.
Last year's results:
(maybe I don't suck as much as I think ...)
Swim: 6:68.1 (1/4 mile)
T1: 3:13:6
Bike: 49:36.9 (13 miles - HEY, WOW, I did it faster this year!)
T2: 2:21:1
Run: 38:0:26 (5k)
Final: 1:40:1
What do you know, the bike time ISN'T higher. Yay me, thanks Arlberg for the loaner! Maybe I will buy that bike after all!
Likelihood of next year? On a scale of 1-10, today I am about a seven.
Am I sore? Nope, not like you would think. My back is sore which I think is from the bike, I should have adjusted the handlebars, but my legs? Nope. My neck is from looking up the whole time, keeping my eyes on the buoys. The rest of me? Not so much.
Do I feel like I pushed myself? I know I did. It was overwhelming, actually. Still working on that part of the story for you all.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
One-Zero-Six-Nine
(There has to be a joke in there somewhere!)
1069, that was this year's race number in the ChelanMan Triathlon. My gal JP and I did the sprint distance, which really pushed me. The ONLY impact was double the swim length (1/2 mile instead of 1/4 mile) which really shouldn't have been a big deal. The water and me, we are friends. Or at least I thought we were!
The water was cold-ish (thanks JP for the wet suit), the water was choppy, and I wanted to give up several times ("If I can make that buoy .... Okay, maybe at the next one ... Swear to God if I make it to the shore-line buoys I am done!") Alas, something bigger than me won the battle and I made the swim. And the bike. And the run. Really, when I think about it, it was the wind that caused all my problems.
It wasn't without *many* swear words, a lot of wishing a rock would fall on me or a car would hit me or a shoelace would come undone! But I made it. (Serious, folks, I had ALL those thoughts. More than once.)
I will be mulling it over for awhile. Look forward to a post later.
For now, I am going to have (another) glass of wine and some pasta for supper.
1069, that was this year's race number in the ChelanMan Triathlon. My gal JP and I did the sprint distance, which really pushed me. The ONLY impact was double the swim length (1/2 mile instead of 1/4 mile) which really shouldn't have been a big deal. The water and me, we are friends. Or at least I thought we were!
The water was cold-ish (thanks JP for the wet suit), the water was choppy, and I wanted to give up several times ("If I can make that buoy .... Okay, maybe at the next one ... Swear to God if I make it to the shore-line buoys I am done!") Alas, something bigger than me won the battle and I made the swim. And the bike. And the run. Really, when I think about it, it was the wind that caused all my problems.
It wasn't without *many* swear words, a lot of wishing a rock would fall on me or a car would hit me or a shoelace would come undone! But I made it. (Serious, folks, I had ALL those thoughts. More than once.)
I will be mulling it over for awhile. Look forward to a post later.
For now, I am going to have (another) glass of wine and some pasta for supper.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Day Before
I'm going to chill today. Sit back, relax, and pray the wind goes away.
We went out to dinner last night at Olive Garden. My Honey hadn't been there yet so I warned him there would probably be a wait time. Sure enough, at 6 ish on a Friday night there was. Fortunately there was a table open in the bar. Unfortunately the bar service was poor last night. For some reason they didn't notice us sit down? Oh well, it all worked out just fine, we had a nice dinner.
After dinner My Honey suggested maybe we should go to a show. I called the babysitter-Auntie and she said no problem, go to the show. We checked out all our options (because the two theaters are only a few miles apart) and decided on "Grown Ups" mostly due to the fact we had no idea what the other films were and we didn't want to see "Toy Story" or "Despicable Me" without the kids. We had about 30 minutes to kill so My Honey says to me, "how bout we park at the theater and go get a drink." So we walked down to the bar, had a drink, then walked back to the theater.
Funny film, then again, I love Adam Sandler, so it was a no-brainer. It was just an easy, slow, cute film.
All in all a nice (day before our) anniversary.
We went out to dinner last night at Olive Garden. My Honey hadn't been there yet so I warned him there would probably be a wait time. Sure enough, at 6 ish on a Friday night there was. Fortunately there was a table open in the bar. Unfortunately the bar service was poor last night. For some reason they didn't notice us sit down? Oh well, it all worked out just fine, we had a nice dinner.
After dinner My Honey suggested maybe we should go to a show. I called the babysitter-Auntie and she said no problem, go to the show. We checked out all our options (because the two theaters are only a few miles apart) and decided on "Grown Ups" mostly due to the fact we had no idea what the other films were and we didn't want to see "Toy Story" or "Despicable Me" without the kids. We had about 30 minutes to kill so My Honey says to me, "how bout we park at the theater and go get a drink." So we walked down to the bar, had a drink, then walked back to the theater.
Funny film, then again, I love Adam Sandler, so it was a no-brainer. It was just an easy, slow, cute film.
All in all a nice (day before our) anniversary.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Eighteen
It's our 18th anniversary tomorrow!
I know! Eighteen years!
I have the weekend pretty much all booked up with triathlon stuff, tomorrow there is a mandatory meeting at 7 which pretty much blows as far as trying to go out for our anniversary, so I thought maybe I would find us a babysitter and plan on going out to dinner tonite.
Everything worked out, I texted My Honey to invite him to dinner and then let him know all the arrangements were made. And then he brought me home roses at lunch. 18 of them :) What a good guy.
A few weeks ago My Honey asked me if I could sew a button back on a pair of shorts. Well, of course I CAN, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet. He asked again today so I did it. What good timing, my word this week was "connect." Which is exactly what I did with the button!
I know! Eighteen years!
I have the weekend pretty much all booked up with triathlon stuff, tomorrow there is a mandatory meeting at 7 which pretty much blows as far as trying to go out for our anniversary, so I thought maybe I would find us a babysitter and plan on going out to dinner tonite.
Everything worked out, I texted My Honey to invite him to dinner and then let him know all the arrangements were made. And then he brought me home roses at lunch. 18 of them :) What a good guy.
A few weeks ago My Honey asked me if I could sew a button back on a pair of shorts. Well, of course I CAN, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet. He asked again today so I did it. What good timing, my word this week was "connect." Which is exactly what I did with the button!
2 days
I must have pushed myself harder than I thought yesterday, my legs were like bricks on my ride today! Heavy! Could be that I had no fuel for energy since I didn't eat breakfast before I headed for my ride? But since I was in the "pushing myself" zone I went for a run right after. It wasn't the easiest thing, I am pretty sure I should have done a few of those "brick" workouts this past month and not just two days before the race.
I am going to take tomorrow off and just enjoy some family time. We're still down one kid, but Bubba needs some mommy time. He hinted that he wanted to stay home today, I really wanted to get my workout in today. (I know how selfish.)
So what am I going to do now? Well ... we have this basement full of all the crap we took out of the living room. Since we haven't needed any of it in the past two or three months I guess its time to haul it all out to the truck and then City Dump, here I come! I suppose I could go green and take some stuff to the Goodwill?
And, I have a photo project I would like to complete for this week's word "connect." I have a lot of ideas bobbling around in my head, not sure what it is going to turn out to be. I also have a photo I took a few months ago that would work really well too, but I think I would rather go on a creative excursion and find something new. But where?
I am going to take tomorrow off and just enjoy some family time. We're still down one kid, but Bubba needs some mommy time. He hinted that he wanted to stay home today, I really wanted to get my workout in today. (I know how selfish.)
So what am I going to do now? Well ... we have this basement full of all the crap we took out of the living room. Since we haven't needed any of it in the past two or three months I guess its time to haul it all out to the truck and then City Dump, here I come! I suppose I could go green and take some stuff to the Goodwill?
And, I have a photo project I would like to complete for this week's word "connect." I have a lot of ideas bobbling around in my head, not sure what it is going to turn out to be. I also have a photo I took a few months ago that would work really well too, but I think I would rather go on a creative excursion and find something new. But where?
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Cont'd
I really want to get out to the Lake to practice, but just to be safe, I want to take another (swimmer) with me so if something happens I have a back up. Unfortunately my gal JP was sleeping after a 12 hour shift last night and DW couldn't go (plus she's not a face-in-the-water swimmer) so I decided I would go to the outdoor pool for either the noon or 5pm swim.
Noon ended up being lunch with My Honey which is turning into a nice daily habit. Even when I work I can be up in time for lunch with him. So I swam at 5. In keeping with my earlier comment about pushing myself, I decided to step it up a little. Lately I have been swimming 10 laps, resting and then swimming 10 more. Tonite I just swam the 20 laps. Really, it's not much, it took me less than 20 minutes. It's a little over the distance of the race so it was good practice. But again, I finished and I was barely winded, and I don't find myself sore right now. It was nice that I found a good rhythm and the wind was blowing a little which made the water a tiny bit choppy.
I remember last year how it took me awhile to find a rhythm in the Lake. All those people, feet, hands and arms flailing all around me, the wind, the choppy water. Not what I had expected or anticipated. I remember stopping in the water, looking around me for a path and telling myself to pay attention to the water to find a rhythm. I couldn't make the rhythm like I can in the pool. It took a minute or two (because the swim only took seven minutes) but I found it. Me and the water. I also remember that I had to look at the shore for markers, I couldn't watch the lane lines on the bottom because there weren't any! So I would look at a tree, then the next tree or a pole or the bike racks. I have been thinking about that as I swam the past month, watching the windows at the indoor pool, not the lane lines. I am getting the feeling it is going to be a different experience this year than last. A good kind of different.
For tomorrow I am planning ... well, I hadn't made a plan yet. Bubba is at day camp again, Miss I is still in Portland so that leaves me with all day (except lunch hour.) I am thinking another ride around the loop (or two) would be good and maybe a run. I could actually do a bike-run brick which would be REALLY GREAT. And, since I will be getting to bed early-ish, I can get it done before it gets too hot.
Speaking of hot, summer is finally here! Its been warm, I've been working on my tan and I am sooooo happy about it! I spent an hour cleaning the pool out today, then a couple hours lying in the sun, dunking myself when I was too hot.
What a great day; breakfast with my boys, early bike ride, coffee with DW, lunch with My Honey, pool time, a swim, dinner with the boys, story time with Bubba and now a little more quiet time tonite while My Honey takes care of some stuff at work.
Noon ended up being lunch with My Honey which is turning into a nice daily habit. Even when I work I can be up in time for lunch with him. So I swam at 5. In keeping with my earlier comment about pushing myself, I decided to step it up a little. Lately I have been swimming 10 laps, resting and then swimming 10 more. Tonite I just swam the 20 laps. Really, it's not much, it took me less than 20 minutes. It's a little over the distance of the race so it was good practice. But again, I finished and I was barely winded, and I don't find myself sore right now. It was nice that I found a good rhythm and the wind was blowing a little which made the water a tiny bit choppy.
I remember last year how it took me awhile to find a rhythm in the Lake. All those people, feet, hands and arms flailing all around me, the wind, the choppy water. Not what I had expected or anticipated. I remember stopping in the water, looking around me for a path and telling myself to pay attention to the water to find a rhythm. I couldn't make the rhythm like I can in the pool. It took a minute or two (because the swim only took seven minutes) but I found it. Me and the water. I also remember that I had to look at the shore for markers, I couldn't watch the lane lines on the bottom because there weren't any! So I would look at a tree, then the next tree or a pole or the bike racks. I have been thinking about that as I swam the past month, watching the windows at the indoor pool, not the lane lines. I am getting the feeling it is going to be a different experience this year than last. A good kind of different.
For tomorrow I am planning ... well, I hadn't made a plan yet. Bubba is at day camp again, Miss I is still in Portland so that leaves me with all day (except lunch hour.) I am thinking another ride around the loop (or two) would be good and maybe a run. I could actually do a bike-run brick which would be REALLY GREAT. And, since I will be getting to bed early-ish, I can get it done before it gets too hot.
Speaking of hot, summer is finally here! Its been warm, I've been working on my tan and I am sooooo happy about it! I spent an hour cleaning the pool out today, then a couple hours lying in the sun, dunking myself when I was too hot.
What a great day; breakfast with my boys, early bike ride, coffee with DW, lunch with My Honey, pool time, a swim, dinner with the boys, story time with Bubba and now a little more quiet time tonite while My Honey takes care of some stuff at work.
3 Days
I took some vacation time and left work early last night.
My poor Bubba, he's so lonely this week. His sister has been gone, his mama has been gone, it's just him and his dad. I called around bedtime last night and he was all tears, missing me, asking me not to work nights anymore. It's only been five days! It was a big week for him though, all that plus he went to a day camp program all week so he is exhausted. They run the kids hard, swim lessons, outside play time, crafts, all that kind of stuff. Poor little guy. Luckily we are on vacation next week so he will be good and sick of me by then!
Since I went home early, I got up with the boys this morning, made Bubba breakfast and then went for a ride on the borrowed bike. It feels pretty much the same. Like a bike, but I shaved 4 minutes off my ride time around the loop. I don't know if that is because I was thinking about it or because it actually goes faster because its lighter, but ... well, 4 minutes is one transition, so I am glad for it!
Speaking of thinking about things; I went music-less today, as I have been doing for the past couple weeks, no headsets allowed in the race, so I was thinking. I was wondering, actually, why I don't challenge myself. Yeah, yeah, yeah, doing the race IS a challenge, I realize that, but as far as performance, why don't I challenge myself?
I did not end my ride huffing and puffing and panting as though I had tried to make a personal best time. In fact, I was quite ... "normal" no shaky legs, not breathing too hard. Hmmm. It's a good thing, really, but I just makes me wonder what more I have in me and how to tap that? How do (first place) winners get into that zone? Mind you, first place is not my goal, never has been, not sure it ever will be, but I wonder, sometimes, how would that feel? To win. Scary mostly, then the bar rises, the expectation goes up. If you win at one thing, don't you have to win at another? And another? And everything else?
Interesting, I just read a fitness blog by a friend of mine referring to her inner strength to do one more set. THAT's the part I am missing. (Funny, I typo'd "part" as "party".) If I wanted to push myself I could have gone 'round the loop one more time, I definitely could have handled it.
My poor Bubba, he's so lonely this week. His sister has been gone, his mama has been gone, it's just him and his dad. I called around bedtime last night and he was all tears, missing me, asking me not to work nights anymore. It's only been five days! It was a big week for him though, all that plus he went to a day camp program all week so he is exhausted. They run the kids hard, swim lessons, outside play time, crafts, all that kind of stuff. Poor little guy. Luckily we are on vacation next week so he will be good and sick of me by then!
Since I went home early, I got up with the boys this morning, made Bubba breakfast and then went for a ride on the borrowed bike. It feels pretty much the same. Like a bike, but I shaved 4 minutes off my ride time around the loop. I don't know if that is because I was thinking about it or because it actually goes faster because its lighter, but ... well, 4 minutes is one transition, so I am glad for it!
Speaking of thinking about things; I went music-less today, as I have been doing for the past couple weeks, no headsets allowed in the race, so I was thinking. I was wondering, actually, why I don't challenge myself. Yeah, yeah, yeah, doing the race IS a challenge, I realize that, but as far as performance, why don't I challenge myself?
I did not end my ride huffing and puffing and panting as though I had tried to make a personal best time. In fact, I was quite ... "normal" no shaky legs, not breathing too hard. Hmmm. It's a good thing, really, but I just makes me wonder what more I have in me and how to tap that? How do (first place) winners get into that zone? Mind you, first place is not my goal, never has been, not sure it ever will be, but I wonder, sometimes, how would that feel? To win. Scary mostly, then the bar rises, the expectation goes up. If you win at one thing, don't you have to win at another? And another? And everything else?
Interesting, I just read a fitness blog by a friend of mine referring to her inner strength to do one more set. THAT's the part I am missing. (Funny, I typo'd "part" as "party".) If I wanted to push myself I could have gone 'round the loop one more time, I definitely could have handled it.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
5 Days to go
I didn't work out yesterday, but I got up today and considered a ride a run or a swim...
My Honey had the Explorer and the bike doesn't fit in the Jeep (I tried yesterday) so unless I wanted to ride from home (which I didn't) a ride was out. As for a run ... Eeehhh. I was wishy-washy, it was windy and I really wasn't in the mood. So, I checked the schedule for the pools. The indoor pool had a lap swim till 1:00 and the outdoor pool didn't start until 12:00. It was only 10:00 so I decided to head down to the indoor pool.
Keep in mind, I CHECKED THE SCHEDULE. I know the lap swim goes until 1:00. I head to the front desk to check in and the very nice YMCA employee reminds me that lap swim doesn't start until 11:00. DOH! Of course it doesn't, that is EXACTLY what the schedule said. Silly me, it's only 10:30. So I considered my options; Starbucks or home. I headed to Starbucks. I drove one block in that direction, turned around and went home, put on my new runners and went for a run. From home. Up the hill. In the wind.
One good part was the wind wasn't too bad and it's not too hot today either. I actually did much better on the run than I anticipated and I think I might even be able to do that blasted hill by the end of the summer. In fact, I actually thought "this hill isn't too bad" today as I walked the steepest incline. Weird.
Another good part was it didn't kill me. I am starting to wonder if I might be able to run most of the distance. Yeah, I know, its the last thing (swim, then bike, then run) but I keep wondering... Practicing on the hill has been a good thing. I might even keep it up.
THEN I went home and got in the car and went down to the pool for my swim. Noon is a weird time to swim. I was surprised at the number of older people (60's-80's). I had a good swim, came home, ate some lunch (or breakfast, really) and now I am trying to decide what else to do before work.
Oh, I know. Grocery shopping.
My Honey had the Explorer and the bike doesn't fit in the Jeep (I tried yesterday) so unless I wanted to ride from home (which I didn't) a ride was out. As for a run ... Eeehhh. I was wishy-washy, it was windy and I really wasn't in the mood. So, I checked the schedule for the pools. The indoor pool had a lap swim till 1:00 and the outdoor pool didn't start until 12:00. It was only 10:00 so I decided to head down to the indoor pool.
Keep in mind, I CHECKED THE SCHEDULE. I know the lap swim goes until 1:00. I head to the front desk to check in and the very nice YMCA employee reminds me that lap swim doesn't start until 11:00. DOH! Of course it doesn't, that is EXACTLY what the schedule said. Silly me, it's only 10:30. So I considered my options; Starbucks or home. I headed to Starbucks. I drove one block in that direction, turned around and went home, put on my new runners and went for a run. From home. Up the hill. In the wind.
One good part was the wind wasn't too bad and it's not too hot today either. I actually did much better on the run than I anticipated and I think I might even be able to do that blasted hill by the end of the summer. In fact, I actually thought "this hill isn't too bad" today as I walked the steepest incline. Weird.
Another good part was it didn't kill me. I am starting to wonder if I might be able to run most of the distance. Yeah, I know, its the last thing (swim, then bike, then run) but I keep wondering... Practicing on the hill has been a good thing. I might even keep it up.
THEN I went home and got in the car and went down to the pool for my swim. Noon is a weird time to swim. I was surprised at the number of older people (60's-80's). I had a good swim, came home, ate some lunch (or breakfast, really) and now I am trying to decide what else to do before work.
Oh, I know. Grocery shopping.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sleepy time
Mmmmm, I started night shift on Saturday night. 5pm-3am.
Sunday morning I woke to Miss I coming in to tell me "Mommy, I leave today for Portland, I am so excited." At 6am. Then she woke me again at 8:30 when she actually left with Grandma. I hope she has a blast. She went down to spend the week with Grandma and Auntie and her younger cousins. I hope Grandma survives three kids under 4 years old for several days while my SIL works!
Then at noonish, Bubba came in to invite me to lunch with him and My Honey. So I went. We had a nice drive in the Jeep (with the top off) and lunch at Sonic. Not a do-over in the summer. All they have is outdoor seating and it was already one hundred degrees out. We drove out to take a look at the giant raging wild land fire burning just outside of town too. That didn't last long either, again it was one hundred degrees out and really not that exciting to watch from across the river. Night time would have been a different story!
I've had a little sleep today, but I think I will head back to bed for another nap, since I can!
******** EEEK!!!!! *******
I just realized that I should really do a workout, the Tri is on SUNDAY.
Sunday morning I woke to Miss I coming in to tell me "Mommy, I leave today for Portland, I am so excited." At 6am. Then she woke me again at 8:30 when she actually left with Grandma. I hope she has a blast. She went down to spend the week with Grandma and Auntie and her younger cousins. I hope Grandma survives three kids under 4 years old for several days while my SIL works!
Then at noonish, Bubba came in to invite me to lunch with him and My Honey. So I went. We had a nice drive in the Jeep (with the top off) and lunch at Sonic. Not a do-over in the summer. All they have is outdoor seating and it was already one hundred degrees out. We drove out to take a look at the giant raging wild land fire burning just outside of town too. That didn't last long either, again it was one hundred degrees out and really not that exciting to watch from across the river. Night time would have been a different story!
I've had a little sleep today, but I think I will head back to bed for another nap, since I can!
******** EEEK!!!!! *******
I just realized that I should really do a workout, the Tri is on SUNDAY.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Sunday Creative
This week's word was "denim".
My Honey helped me with this photo. He did a pretty good job huh?
My Honey helped me with this photo. He did a pretty good job huh?
Friday, July 09, 2010
Aaahhh Summer
Spent the last two days working on my tan. I love summer. The pool was cool and refreshing yesterday, one dunk at a time. It was much more tolerable today to hang out in for a few minutes at a time.
I got up early-ish and took the wet suit to the City pool. It was just as embarrassing as I thought it was going to be. Who goes swimming when it is seventy degrees out (yes! at 7am) in a wet suit? WE DO! One of the other lap swimmers actually teased us which gave us the chance to say we were practicing in them for the Tri. Then we felt better about it. They sure are restraining. I don't like it at all, but I made myself do it. I have a friend that lives near the Lake, she's actually been in the water and said it isn't too bad once you get used to it. Maybe we'll be okay without them? Still looking for a way to go (safely) next week and do an open water swim.
AND! My bike is ready. Well, sort of. The bike repair guy called, told me he fixed what he could, and recommended borrowing a (lighter) bike that is for sale at the shop to see how I like it, oh, and why don't I use it for the race because it will be safer! So, I came home with two bikes and I can't wait to check out the new-ish one. It sure is lighter! Maybe I can shave a couple minutes there since the swim might take me longer in the wet suit. (As if I am worried about the times.) I am planning on riding tomorrow morning to check it out.
I got up early-ish and took the wet suit to the City pool. It was just as embarrassing as I thought it was going to be. Who goes swimming when it is seventy degrees out (yes! at 7am) in a wet suit? WE DO! One of the other lap swimmers actually teased us which gave us the chance to say we were practicing in them for the Tri. Then we felt better about it. They sure are restraining. I don't like it at all, but I made myself do it. I have a friend that lives near the Lake, she's actually been in the water and said it isn't too bad once you get used to it. Maybe we'll be okay without them? Still looking for a way to go (safely) next week and do an open water swim.
AND! My bike is ready. Well, sort of. The bike repair guy called, told me he fixed what he could, and recommended borrowing a (lighter) bike that is for sale at the shop to see how I like it, oh, and why don't I use it for the race because it will be safer! So, I came home with two bikes and I can't wait to check out the new-ish one. It sure is lighter! Maybe I can shave a couple minutes there since the swim might take me longer in the wet suit. (As if I am worried about the times.) I am planning on riding tomorrow morning to check it out.
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Less than two weeks
I lost my motivation on or around the 27th.
Then I got it back on or around Monday.
Good thing too, there's less than two weeks before the race!
Monday night my gal JP came over and we ran. Pretty good run, we were both kind of tired.
Tuesday night I went to the pool and swam. Good swim. Two long stretches that felt really good. And since I was feeling so good, I decided to go for a run. It was a really good idea. The run good too. I had read a pretty inspirational story just before I left for my swim and I think it was just what I needed. Thanks LSL!
Wednesday I dug the wetsuit out of the boat. We have a couple, actually, so I texted JP and asked if she wanted to go do a test swim at the pool. Boy did I feel dumb going swimming at an indoor pool in a wetsuit! But it was a good idea. We knew it would feel different, but we didn't know it would make our arms feel like they weighed eighty-five (85) pounds EACH! Holy mother of all things wet and heavy! We did it though. We're trying to arrange an open water day, but we're running out of time and our days off are different so ....
This morning I had planned to run, so I dragged my lazy bum out of bed, checked my text, just in case JP was up, and she was, so we ran again. We did the 2.5 mile loop from here, but had to walk part of it as usual. We did run a small section of the beastly hill though. WHEW! THEN, THEN, she made me do more stuff, push ups and squats and some triceps dips. On that evil B! I am going to be sore tomorrow!
Tomorrow we are planning on a swim in the outdoor pool in the wetsuits. I will admit I am a little embarrassed, but I gotta do it. The lake is freezing cold. Sixty-six last week. brrrrrr.
In other news, we had a great time with family here on the 4th for my nieces 3rd birthday party. It was too windy and cold for the pool, but luckily my gal DW had offered to loan me her jumping castle so we had something for the kids to do. What fun! They all loved it. Many thanks to her! My dad-in-law and brother-in-law had been out fishing the day before so we bbq'd fresh salmon for dinner, it was delicious and later we took the kids to the park for the fireworks. Turned out that one of my favorite semi-local bands, Red Means Go, was playing at the park so we got to hear them while we waited. But it made for a late night and then a VERY early morning.
Speaking of early mornings, I am starting night shift on Saturday so I blacked out my bedroom today. Turns out the curtains I bought for the living room that didn't look very good look kind of nice in the bedroom. It really needs to be painted tho .... KIDDING!!! No more painting for awhile. Maybe in November :)
Then I got it back on or around Monday.
Good thing too, there's less than two weeks before the race!
Monday night my gal JP came over and we ran. Pretty good run, we were both kind of tired.
Tuesday night I went to the pool and swam. Good swim. Two long stretches that felt really good. And since I was feeling so good, I decided to go for a run. It was a really good idea. The run good too. I had read a pretty inspirational story just before I left for my swim and I think it was just what I needed. Thanks LSL!
Wednesday I dug the wetsuit out of the boat. We have a couple, actually, so I texted JP and asked if she wanted to go do a test swim at the pool. Boy did I feel dumb going swimming at an indoor pool in a wetsuit! But it was a good idea. We knew it would feel different, but we didn't know it would make our arms feel like they weighed eighty-five (85) pounds EACH! Holy mother of all things wet and heavy! We did it though. We're trying to arrange an open water day, but we're running out of time and our days off are different so ....
This morning I had planned to run, so I dragged my lazy bum out of bed, checked my text, just in case JP was up, and she was, so we ran again. We did the 2.5 mile loop from here, but had to walk part of it as usual. We did run a small section of the beastly hill though. WHEW! THEN, THEN, she made me do more stuff, push ups and squats and some triceps dips. On that evil B! I am going to be sore tomorrow!
Tomorrow we are planning on a swim in the outdoor pool in the wetsuits. I will admit I am a little embarrassed, but I gotta do it. The lake is freezing cold. Sixty-six last week. brrrrrr.
In other news, we had a great time with family here on the 4th for my nieces 3rd birthday party. It was too windy and cold for the pool, but luckily my gal DW had offered to loan me her jumping castle so we had something for the kids to do. What fun! They all loved it. Many thanks to her! My dad-in-law and brother-in-law had been out fishing the day before so we bbq'd fresh salmon for dinner, it was delicious and later we took the kids to the park for the fireworks. Turned out that one of my favorite semi-local bands, Red Means Go, was playing at the park so we got to hear them while we waited. But it made for a late night and then a VERY early morning.
Speaking of early mornings, I am starting night shift on Saturday so I blacked out my bedroom today. Turns out the curtains I bought for the living room that didn't look very good look kind of nice in the bedroom. It really needs to be painted tho .... KIDDING!!! No more painting for awhile. Maybe in November :)
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Friday, July 02, 2010
It's here!
I came home to this! It looks great. That corner didn't photograph really well, but it sort of shows the colors of the carpet and vinyl. We moved the love seat upstairs and we actually have a living room that looks and feels like a living room right now! Just some more artwork and doo-dads and this room will look GREAT!
Thursday, July 01, 2010
More good times
Another beautiful day in Chelan. The weather turned windy later in the afternoon, but we did get some good pool time before lunch (which means I got a good tan) and it seems to be turning into a nice evening.
This is the life
I think I have mentioned before that I love Lake Chelan. It is my favorite place EVER. It relaxes me just driving into town and smelling the smell of the lake. Luckily my sister is up here this week so I get to spend some time chillin this weekend while the new carpet is being installed.
YES! You read that right, the carpet and vinyl are being installed! I left yesterday, took one last look around my bare-wooded floors and the old vinyl and thought "this will all be different when I get back." And I was happy about that! I am also very happy that we get to have my niece's birthday party-BBQ at our house on Sunday. She is a 4th of July baby and its my honor and pleasure to have the party at my house!
Bubba was invited to spend part of the week (without me) up in Chelan, so Miss I and I ran him up here Monday after work. It was nearly 8 when we left to go home and the sun was setting as we pulled into town around 9. I noticed the sunset was very pretty and then I hear Miss I exclaim "Mama, what is that?"
"What do you see?" I ask her
"The sky is all pink. And its following us!"
It was a mom-moment for me. Once in a while a kid will have a new awareness of something and its always a thrill to my mom-soul. This was one of those moments (my daughter is noticing a sunset ...)
I told her it was the sunset and she asked if we could stop and watch it. So we did. Another precious moment. I pulled over and we watched for a few minutes. She leaned her head against the seat and sighed. It was so cute.
"Fanks mom."
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