Lazy Day Off

Didn't do too much. And I'm OK with that.

- took my mom for coffee this morning. 'Course, I had no milk, so had to go out anyways!

- made big batch of chili to stock my freezer. Yum!

- got some blood work done

- went to the bank

- returned some treasures at Bed Bath & Beyond. Then stayed to explore the new, huge mall: Cross Iron Mills. Egad, I was the only person under 65 that didn't have a baby stroller!

- now catching up on Corrie. And going to soak in the tub.

What does this say about our society?

I took my tv (in perfect working order) to the Women In Need Thrift Store this afternoon.

"Does it have the remote?"

"Oh, shoot! I left it at home."

"Well, I can't accept it if it doesn't have a remote."

"The buttons work."

"Nope. Have to have the remote."

OK...let me get this straight. I'm donating a tv that works in the hopes that it will help someone escaping a bad situation or in transition but you'll only take it if there's a remote. Apparently we're too lazy to get up off the couch to change channels.

Beggars apparently can be choosers. Who knew?

Three outta four ain't bad

We had a great weekend for a run! The sun was shining and temperature was perfect. Check out our happy, smiling faces complete with product placement (Venti Awake tea with peppermint and skim moo--try it!).



Goals for this year:
- Upright. Check.
- Smiling. Check.
- Uninjured. Check.
S. was shocked when I readily agreed to go for a run on Sunday morning. He had to do some major back pedalling!
- Beat last year's time. Nope.
But that's OK--we learned that tapering 4 months prior is not a good idea (right, D?!). We ran when we could, walked when we had to and had a great visit. We also met some lovely people (Lyle and Juanita). Besides, now we've got a reason to go back and run it again next year!

Gooooood Morning!

Was up and at 'em at 0434h this morning! Well, my feet didn't actually hit the floor till 0502h, but I love waking up without an alarm clock. Had a small nectarine and a big spoonful of cottage cheese so that my tummy wouldn't be angry with me when I went to boot camp. And a delightful cup of chai, too.

Boot camp rocked! Even in the dark. I am such a morning person! Picked up C. who looked bleary eyed and only semi-conscious. Had a great workout which included a weighted walk up the big ass Edworthy hill, then back down half way, lunge walking with a shoulder press up, back down, then squat/shoulder pressing backwards up the hill. Oy, my butt is gonna feel it tomorrow! If I didn't have to start work at 6 some mornings, I would much rather do bootcamp in the morning.

Came home and am enjoying a brekkie that I haven't had for a very long time (it's a make the night before):
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/4-1/2 cup yogurt (I used Liberte plain)
1/2 apple (Honeycrisp) chopped
1/2 frozen nana, cut up
12 almonds, crushed
small drizzle of maple syrup

Mix it all up and let it get mushy in the fridge overnight. This was my go-to brekkie when I first started WW. My friend Charlene gave me the recipe.

Now that the whole day stretches out before me, here's my to-do list:
- pack for weekend away
- pick up race package at RR at 10
- buy new swim suit (sadly, mine don't fit--they will soon, but they were all purchased while at goal weight)
- hair appointment at 1145 to deal with sparkly bits
- head to Canmore for weekend of fun!

Melissa's is tomorrow and I'm not taking the laptop with me, so I'll update you when I return on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Not fair!

I started kindergarten with 12 other kids. We all attended the same school, from K-12. There was no starting a new school. We had the same teachers as our older siblings and some teachers taught some of our parents. Grant's mom taught grade 2! Heck, senior high meant moving across the hall and getting a full sized locker! Kids came and left, but when grade 12 rolled around, so were most of us.

And now, of the 13:
-I lost my dad to colon cancer three years ago.
-S. lost her dad (Lou Gehrig's) last summer.
-M.'s dad had a heart attack last September.
-And N. just lost her mom to breast cancer. I spent the afternoon with N. and her family and about 250 other people, celebrating a life that ended much too soon.

And get this. Of those four parents, only one was over 65. N.'s mom hadn't even made 60 yet.

So what's my point? I choose what I fuel my body with. I can fill it with crap and toxins and promote crazy cell growth. OR I can eat real food, that nourishes and fuels my body so that I can be healthy and strong and run and walk. I can be still and thankful and practice yoga. I can be mindful.

And I will cherish every day that I am here. 'Cause life's just too damned short not to.

Happy Birthday, Nermal!

I can't believe she's been mine for a whole year already! Time flies when you've got a furball who travels at warp speed no matter what she does.

Ain't she just the cutest thing you ever saw?

Kale stew

Is it a stew? Is it a soup? I can't tell, so let's call it a stoup a la Rachel Ray and my auntie Sherrilee.

And it was gone before I thought to get a photo. Sorry!

I just needed to add a touch more hot sauce and it's the perfect cool, rainy day lunch! Two thumbs up.

H =)

Fueled and ready

It's 0730h on a Sunday morning. I work this afternoon at 12. But here sit, ready to go for a run. I had some oatmeal (with 1/2 a nana, 1 TB almond butter and 1/2 cup skim moo) and a lovely peach. A pint of water and a big cuppa chai. I should, however, change out of my pj's!

It's raining too. Ugh. Oh well, there's little chance of heat exhaustion when it's raining and +8C.

I threw together a stew last night in the crock pot. One of the girls that I shared the kale with makes this all the time.

-spuds
-onion
-carrot
-cob of corn, kernels shaved
-sausage (I used two vension bratwurst that Angus' dad made me and two from the grocery store--I should've bought some at the Farmer's market but I forgot--I didn't make a list)
-kale (big bunch, chopped)
-two cups chicken stock

So this concoction has been cooking on low all night. When I got up, I squeezed in the juice of a lemon and some hot sauce. It smells D.I.V.I.N.E.

I've also signed up for my FOURTH six week session of Bootcamp! Our corporate group has bailed, so we're now officially part of the Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5 pm Edworthy gang. These guys (and gals) make me push myself and are great fun. So Monday I'm there solo (C. is getting checked out for orthotics), Tuesday we're going to Signal Hill (C. to make up Monday night, me to make up Wednesday--I've got a funeral to go to) and then I'm going to Friday morning 6 am since we'll be in BANFF all weekend!!

EGAD! Melissa's is next Saturday! I'm feeling not too bad about it, either. My goal is to beat last year's time (shouldn't be too hard, it's my slowest 1/2 finish ever), be upright, smiling and uninjured. Smiling should be easy--running with C and D will be a hoot. And S and D will be waiting for us at the finish line. =P

Alas, my tea is the perfect drinking temperature now and I really must go change. Happy Sunday!

It's too early for this early bird!

I had a very fitful sleep. Woke up every hour it seemed. So I rolled out of bed before my alarm even went off. 0508h is too early, even for me, on a Saturday!

The oatmeal boiled over in the microwave. Nerm's kind of cranky. Heck, I'm kind of cranky. This doesn't bode well for work today...

On a more positive note, the scale is showing me some love! Down 3 lbs from last Saturday (although the WW scale and mine don't always agree--I like mine better!). Slow and steady, baby. Slow and steady.

Just gotta say:

1. The Ta Ta Tamer by Lululemon is a must-have for all women. The girls have never looked so good or moved so little in a sports bra!

2. Trainer Josh is NOT to send substitute teachers. Ever. Under any circumstance. We did the same freaking drill for 40 minutes. All of us lost interest. Completely. I especially enjoyed Camille's comment, "I teach grade one for F's sake. I schedule things in 20 minute blocks. I have ADD. This sucks." Well said, Camille. Well said.

3. Never go to the Farmer's Market on Friday. Apparently this is when the old people and the people with gi-normous baby strollers overrun the place. Traffic was insane. What's normally a ten minute drive took 35 minutes. And 20 of that was just getting out of the freaking parking lot! Oy. Good thing C. drove to boot camp! =P

4. I wasn't aware that the rules of the road had changed since I got my license 18 years ago. Now the person turning left has the right of way. And, when you're turning at a four way stop sign, you get to go first, even when the person who's going straight got there first. Who knew?!

5. I think I may be slightly sleep deprived (I've been up since 4 a.m. Don't ask. I just don't sleep).

6. Tribe Roasted Garlic Hummus is the best. I don't like that it's made south of the border (and on the other freaking side of the country to boot), but I do love that there's nothing artificial in it. It's all real. Spread on a Finn Crisp cracker it's divine. These are the crackers of my mother's people.

7. I'm boycotting family Turkey day. Instead, I'm cooking a turducken at my house. I hate having to travel 2 1/2 hours to my grandparent's house to eat my grandma's overcooked, dry bird and burned potatoes. Every year, she burns the potatoes. MORE WATER in the pot, woman! Besides, Thanksgiving is about the harvest and quite frankly, I've got quite a haul from my garden. I shared the kale love with some co-workers today who were ever so thankful. That's what Turkey Day is about. Not biting your tongue so you don't tell your cousin(s)/grandparent(s) what you REALLY think (about a lot of stuff). Yes, I know I have issues. I'm the first to admit it. =P

8. That's enough rambling/ranting/raving.

Boot Camp statistics

OK, they aren't great, but there's definitely a difference! Add to the equation that in this past session, I probably missed 2.5 weeks because of my crazy work schedule. All in all, I'm happy with it. Slow and steady wins the race, after all.

After 18 weeks here's my measurements:

Bicep: -0.75"
Chest: -0.75"
Abs: -1.125"
Hips: -2.75"
Thigh: -0.875"
Calf: STS
Total lost: -6.25"
Weight: -1.6 pounds

And with that, I'm off to catch up with my peeps in Weatherfield!
=)

Fly by post

Still here. Mom's here. Went running on Saturday, hung out with my peeps yesterday, went for a Sunday drive and nature walk with S., then BBQ'd an amazing dinner for Mom and the boy and SLEPT. (insert blissful sigh here)

Bought new Birks for work today, then drove to Canmore to wander around and show mom why it's such a great place. Came back and enjoyed some noodles and now I'm thinking my jammies are calling my name.

Over and out.

=)

Highland Games

So S. & I celebrated 6 months together by hanging out in the lovely mountain town of Canmore. The 19th annual Highland Games were on Sunday so we headed into town for a peek:










As you can see, the heavy events were our favourite! We also enjoyed the black powder demonstration by the 78th Fraser Highlanders (the old guys with guns). The geriatric bayonet charge was hilarious!

I got my nephew's birthday present: a painting of one of the family castles. It also happens to be haunted by a MacDonald piper, so it adds to in the intrigue. I talked S. out of buying a broad sword (how will you get it back to the hotel, we walked, remember? Where will you put it once you get it home? You see that they're made in China, right?) and he bought some lovely goblets instead. Apparently they're perfect for mulled wine! =P

That's it, that's all, folks!

Wowsers!

A year ago today, I said goodbye to one of my bestest friends ever:





It seems like only yesterday. She taught me so much, 'cause she had 20.5 years of living under her belt (that's like 90 something human years).
Like how to laze properly in a sunbeam.
How to enjoy every minute whether you're cuddling on the couch, getting stoned with a catnip filled sock or eating dinner.
Never let anyone tell you beauty sleep is not necessary. Do it whenever you can.
Good hair is not to be under estimated (she had the most beautiful coat, right up until the day she died).
You can find new friends in the strangest and most difficult of circumstances (Christie, Dr. Kim).
Always tell your human that you love them. Often.
And above all else, live each day in each moment and with grace and compassion.

I miss her so much every day. I miss her purr (it was VERY loud), the way she'd cuddle into my armpit at night and the pitter patter of her Kitty feet coming to meet me at the door.

RIP, mon petit chou chou. I miss you, Doodlebug.

So in her honour, I whipped up an amazing batch of curry (if I do say so myself). Here we have 2/3 cup of bulgur, 1 cup of channa masala with spinach, 1 cup of aloo ghobi, 1 TB of yogurt and fresh cilantro. Some of my finest work, ever. Washed down with a cold Rock Creek cider from my friends at Big Rock Brewery.



She'd approve.

Catch Up Time

Well, boot camp kicked my ass again. But apparently that's what I'm paying for! Here's a quick recap of the past few days:

Nerm on one of two 20 lb boxes of peaches that my mom and I froze for winter:



Sweet peas from my garden that smell AMAZING! I forgot how much I love them!!


Flowers from my boy to celebrate 6 months together. (Freaking out slightly as this is longest relationship I've ever been in!) He had no clue, but did pretty well considering I would have been happy with a bouquet from Safeway. =P



I went looking for Nerm before I started this post. I couldn't find her anywhere! Then I noticed that my closet door was open...


There she was, looking cute as ever, hiding on the shelf. I'm so glad she picked me!


I think I'll keep him, too:

Wednesday already?

Egad, where does the time go?! Oh right, I was working! Cha ching--overtime has got me almost a whole day off. And that's just from Tuesday night and this afternoon. Sweet!

I'm off to boot camp. If I can move my arms afterwards, I'll post more!