I <3 my new neighbours!

Guess who just knocked at the door? The new neighbours across the hall! And they brought red wine. I like ‘em already!

Had coffee with the girls, lunch with my yogini friend, C., and came home. It’s been a quiet afternoon and I’m pretty good with that. I was going to nap, but once 5 o’clock hit, I knew that I shouldn’t. So I think it’ll be an early night so I can get up and go for a run in the morning,  go to the market (see groceries on the list below),  meet S. & his parents for lunch and then who knows what….I left the après lunch up to S. so we’ll see what he comes up with!

My list is shrinking….

To Do:

-bank
-garden (rip it out and work it up)
-RUN!!

Garmin says:  6 x 3:2 (30 min), 270 cal,  3.59km

This puts me in Surrey, BC at the 160 Street Overpass! After tomorrow’s run, I’ll be most of the way through Langley!

-laundry

-vacuum
-change my dentist appointment

-groceries
-make doctor appointment

Three (point five) down, time to nap!

Yep, I think I’m entitled since I’ve been up since 4! Of course, Nerm’s been napping hard since 4, but I’m pretty sure she’ll be up for a cuddle.

To Do:

-bank
-garden (rip it out and work it up)
-RUN!!
-laundry (only partially, it’s sorted and the first two loads are in)
-vacuum
-change my dentist appointment

-groceries
-make doctor appointment

 

I had a great run on the trails. Not super speedy and I’ve yet to update the TransCanada trip, but I will post-nap. I stepped on the scale this morning and was surprised by the number—it was bigger than I expected as I was (am) having a super skinny day (you know, you just feel skinny)! Add to that, I need to adjust my heart rate monitor ‘cause it kept slipping during my run! (I did my bootcamp measurements, too. Again, post nap)

So scale, you can say whatever you want. How I feel is just as, if not more, important!

Jaime Rocks!

I am now a proud user of Windows Live Writer thanks to Jaime! Apparently this will allow me to do all kinds of cool things, like:

• change the colour of the font! Or the font!
• add bullets (maybe I could do that in Blogger, I don’t know
• cross things off my to-do list! (which is what I really, really wanted to know how to do!)
• I’m hoping that dealing with photos will be easier (I’ll experiment and let you know)
• See what my post is actually going to look like in my blog template

And that is what I know for sure.

On a side note, I’ve decided to NOT email my supervisor just yet. Perhaps some of the beloved full timers stepped up to the plate and volunteered. I’m still seething mad (and in need of a good run, which will happen very, very soon!) and I’d rather not burn any bridges. I shall wait and see.

For a very non-patient person, this is INCREDIBLY difficult, yet I can do this. <breathe in, breathe out> <sigh>

Friday Five

Totally stealing the idea from Amber!!

1. Still beyond annoyed about the New Year's Eve scheduling thing. See yesterday's post for the deets. Please comment as I'm struggling to find a way to communicate with this person!

2. I've been up since 4 a.m. I don't sleep at the best of times and especially when stressed. Hello, I'm on VACATION, remember?! However, I've made my to-do list:
-bank
-garden (rip it out and work it up)
-RUN!! Nothing better for stress release than exercise (although I'd really like a punching bag right now!)
-laundry
-vacuum
-change my dentist appointment DONE
-groceries
-make doctor appointment DONE

3. I went to aquasize last night. My cousin and I have gone on and off for years and love it. She's sick (and getting ready for a big trip abroad, so needs to get better) so didn't come with me. We usually go to Killarney on Mondays and Wednesdays, but now she's started swimming lengths on those days. Turns out it's not a big deal, as Renfrew offers a class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:45.
Good: early exercise means early bedtime; Tuesdays and Thursdays are my cross training days in my marathon training

Bad: bad access via transit; it's early so cousin more likely to bail due to work issues; instructor not fabulous

Verdict: we shall see. There is a MUCH later class at Thornhill that has better transit access so that's also an option.

4. I'm getting new neighbours! Both suites (across the hall and below me) are now rented. This means I REALLY need to get a better rug under my bed to help muffle noise. I went to a few carpet places yesterday. Had crappy service at one, but fabulous at the second. I've got four different samples to test drive. Call is in to the interior decorator for professional opinion (I want something both functional and pretty, yet gives me options to change colour schemes in my room, too). Oh yeah, best part is that the one I really, really liked was only going to cost $8000. WTF?! Even the sales person was surprised!! I would've been gorgeous though...C'mon lottery gods!

Anyway, must make cookies to welcome new downstairs neighbour. "Welcome to the building. (hands over cookies) Noise travels up and down in this building. Our bedrooms are right above one another. I have to be up quite early in the mornings for work, so please let me know if I disturb you and I'll be sure to do the same for you." (smiles sweetly)

and finally....

5. It's Fall back weekend! Although really, I don't know what the point of this is because they have NEVER EVER shown any energy savings by f-ing with the clock. All it does is give people a false sense of "extra" sleep, when in fact, they've been sleep deprived since spring. And there are more accidents and heart attacks associated with time change. But whatever. I am not (yet) in charge of these things. Just wait though, my time is coming....

Cranky, cranky, cranky!

I love my job. I hate my schedule.

Our December schedule was supposed to be posted on Tuesday. It was not. On Wednesday, my supervisor emailed me at home (I'm on holidays, remember) along with 4 full time people and another part timer looking for 3 volunteers for New Year's Eve.

I emailed her back with: I’m not available on the 31st. I volunteered to work over Christmas with the understanding that I wouldn’t have to work New Year’s. I also worked New Year’s last year.

To which she replied: Thank you for your email. Due to the number of shifts that need to be covered on Dec 24 & Dec 31, there will be some staff who need to work both days. I never indicated to staff that if you worked one of these days that you would be guaranteed to have the other off. Dec 31 is not a stat - it is a regular working day.

Bull shit!

I'm PART time. Ask those full time people you love so much ('cause us part timer's are the "bane of their existence" direct quote from manager) to do it. I also worked it last year. The holidays are supposed to be distributed equitably.

She only gave us the holidays to self schedule, not the whole pay period, so now she's in a pickle. NOT MY PROBLEM. The schedule wasn't posted when it was supposed to be, so I've made plans to go away with my family. Deal with it.

GRRRRRR.

Rant over and normally scheduled programming will now resume.


EDIT: OK, how sad is it that I've been online searching for computer programs that can schedule employees? And even worse, that I'm contemplating buying it myself and presenting it to my supervisor and saying, "Well, you seem to be struggling with it" and then I (of course) look like a genius (which I am, because they obviously have not sought out these options)! I've also been formulating a response. This is what I have so far:

I realize that there are shifts to cover, however, the shifts over the holidays are to be distributed evenly. When you posted the shifts for us to self schedule, you only gave us the holidays. You gave us no indication as to how many shifts full and part time staff were to sign up for. A better solution would have been to have us self schedule the entire pay period. Since that is no longer an option AND I volunteered for all of Christmas AND I am part time AND I worked last New Year's Eve AND the schedule was not posted when it was supposed to be, I have made plans out of town to celebrate the holidays with my family, I am unavailable to work on Dec. 31-Jan 2. I AM willing to be short shifted if necessary and I am available on Jan. 3 if that helps.

Does that sound OK? Comments please!

Wonderful Wednesday

Mostly 'cause I slept in, again! I think it just shows what a sleep deficit I have. I'm going to bed at a half decent time tonight and want to get up between 7 and 8 tomorrow, hopefully without an alarm clock!

Had a lovely lunch with Cowgirl Warrior at the Sunterra Market downtown. I had a very yummy turkey sammie with mango chutney and a cup of strawberries. Mmmmm....

Came home and headed out for a run while the sun was shining (the forecast isn't good). I hit the trails (thank you, Lisa Q., for showing them all to me last year!) doing 3:2's x 7 and Garmin says:
00:35:04
319 cal
4.23 km
88% max hr

Then I reset him and started to walk for home and cool down. I clocked another 15:25, 1.5 km and 72 cal.

This means that I've just crossed the Port Mann Bridge over the Fraser river!

That's about all I've got. Had the last of my Thai One On soup for dinner tonight. Tomorrow I'm making a potato, kale and bison sausage stew in the crock pot.

Shoutin' It From the Roof Top!!

Go check out Laura's blog for a fan-freaking-tastic giveaway!!


H =)

Leaving on a jet plane

In November for Fun-couver!!

Booked it with my Aeroplan miles and a round trip ticket is costing $105. Can't beat that!

And now I should go have a shower. M and I have a lunch date at Diner Deluxe. Fabulous little diner that is just like walking into my late great-grandma's house!

H =)

Holidays ROCK!!

Especially stay-cations! I stayed in my jammies till late this afternoon. And quite honestly, the only reason I changed was 'cause I was going for noodles with C.!

So I strapped on the heart rate monitor and headed to Kensington (through downtown, along the river and then across).Garmin says (round trip):
2:04:41
9.06 km
745 cal
48% max hr
Today's outing has me through Burnaby and I'm at the Railway underpass, ready to enter Coquitlam at the North Road underpass! Whoo hoo!!

I've set some running goals for myself (why wait till January 1, like everybody else?).
March 28, 2010--Around the Bay 30K in Hamilton with D.

May 15, 2010--Windemere Full Marathon (that's right, 42.2K!!) in Spokane, WA
Although the starting line is in Idaho, you finish in Washington--how cool is that?!

September 25, 2010--Melissa's Road Race in Banff

December 12, 2010--Honolulu Marathon in, you guessed it, Honolulu, Hawaii
'Cause really, the marathon is you vs. the course. The only time you can compare times is on the same course.
So Diamond Head, watch out. This time you will not make me question my own sanity!
Highway to Hell, get ready, 'cause I'm comin' back to beat you into submission!
And Japanese tourists, well, there's not much more to say except, "GET THE F*%K OUTTA MY WAY!" It is a timed event, after all! =P

And really, who wouldn't love a tropical vacation afterwards, drinking pina colada's on a beach? Certainly not me!

And then I came home to an email about yoga teacher training that begins in January. I'm having lunch with my lovely yogini friend, C., on Saturday so I'm sure she'll be able to help me decide (she just finished her training this summer)if this is a good time and move for me. It's a fabulous opportunity with a great teacher, in Calgary, part time...maybe I'll just go sit on my mat for a bit and sit with it all for a bit.

Oh, and tomorrow I'm booking a flight to Funcouver for November. I'm going to crash at my cousin's house, practice yoga with another fabulous teacher (whom I adore!), and run the sea wall. And maybe, no, definitely, drink tea by the ocean and feel the breeze on my face! Thank God for Air Miles!

H =)

Operation Christmas Party Dress

So I finally got my ass off the couch, strapped on the Garmin (forgot the heart rate monitor, though. D-oh!) and headed out. Did 35 minutes of 3:2's. 4.29 km. 335 calories.
I walked home, grabbed the movie I had to return (The Proposal--two thumbs up) and headed out again. By the time I got home, I'd clocked another 24 minutes, 2.24 km, and 134 calories. Not bad, if I do say so myself!

Gotta jump in the shower. I'm heading to C's for an afternoon with the girls--she's got some artist friends selling their wares and an Epicure party too. Then I'm taking supper to S's--grilled tandoori chicken thighs with homemade aloo ghobi (I'll make him like cauliflower if it's the last thing I do!)--and finish watching the movie we started yesterday before he had to go to work.

Oh, and I've made it through Fun-couver and am now officially in Burnaby (just past the Willingdon Ave. Exit)!

WI Results

Whoo hoo!

My scale shows -1.4 and WW says -0.8. Either way, I'll take it! I do like mine better, though, since it makes me uber close (0.2) to another decade (which also results in one point going bye-bye--boo!). AND, I got (yet another) 20 pounds lost sticker. Anywho, the soup's simmering and making my house smell yummy, so I should probably go give it a stir to prevent sticking.

Have a great weekend!

H =)

p.s. I think Nerm and I are going to remain a duo. As lovely as Marcus is, I don't want to stress Nerm out. I made a commitment to her first and her well-being is more important than my need to fix broken situations. And, the girls at the clinic said that more than a few people are considering him. And back in March Nerm had some issues with marking and I really don't want to go through that again. So it's quite likely that it shall remain just us girls in this house!

Insert Witty Title Here

On the walk today, Garmin says:
00:51:13h
308 cal
4.87 km
5.7 km/h
72% max hr
SEVEN HILLS!!
Finished up with some pushups and ab work. Just for fun.

And, special thanks to AMY who made this recipe last week. I pulled out my trusty copy of ESBM and whipped up a batch of Thai One On.




Oh. My. Freaking. God. is this soup good! Definitely a keeper.

Two things for next time, though:
1. Take the tails off the shrimp! I know, I know. The recipe does say to do this, but that's the problem when you use recipes as a 'guide' rather than 'recipe'. Lesson learned.

2. Add a few crushed red pepper flakes. It needs just a touch of heat to enhance the flavours. If you don't like heat, don't add it. Simple as that.

And that's about all I know. I bought some magazine subscriptions for the kidlets for Christmas (Science World and Highlights for nephew and niece, respectively). And me too (Shape, Weight Watchers and Yoga Journal). =)
It's a fundraiser for my friend's kids school and it saves me a whack of cash when it's delivered to my door instead of buying them at the news stand. Win-win, no?

Happy Friday!

The view from the Trans Canada

So, 17 km into this amazing journey from sea to sea, here's where I've been:

Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal in Lion's Bay (0 km)
West Van
North Van (where I popped in and said 'Hello' to my friends, K & B)
Capilano bridge

I'm still in North Van at the Lonsdale Exit (17 km). I'm hoping to make it to Vancouver by tomorrow...stay tuned!

#270

Posts, that is!

I have thoroughly enjoyed Day #1 of holidays. I stayed in my jammies till almost 5 pm but got lots done!

-completed professional college registration.

-paid professional fees so that I may practice. Gulp. Good-bye $675!

-signed up for Canada Savings Bonds to be automatically withdrawn from pay cheque. Hello, Hawaii!

-completed necessary forms to join pension fund (they just changed the rules and I'm eligible an entire year earlier than I thought I would be). Hello, Retirement!

Then I thought I should get off my ass and enjoy the super sunshine that was going on out there. So I donned walkin' gear and headed out. After crunching through the leaves, basking in the glorious sunshine, Garmin says:
1:00:00
6.39 km
6.4 km/h
77% max hr
405 cal

I'll take it! Dinner is cooking as I type and man, does it smell good! I'm reheating the aloo ghobi I made the other day (third time reheating...it gets better each time!) and I'm baking a trout fillet smeared with Patak's Tandoori paste. It smells D.I.V.I.N.E.!



And here's what I left (as I try desperately to give up my membership in the 'clean your plate' club):

And now I'll take my exclamation marks and bid farewell. I've got the new issue of Self Magazine to peruse, episodes of Being Erica and The Border (I <3 CBC) to watch and a kitty to cuddle.

*SIGH*

Me and Nerm had a lie-in (0914h) this morning and are just hangin'. A big cuppa chai and jammies make for a lovely first day of holidays.

Seen on the WW boards that made my morning: If you can't say anything nice, come sit by me!

I love it!! I often say I'm going to burn in hell for my comments (have I mentioned that people watching is a favourite pastime?). It'd be a lot more fun if I had company! And besides, it's all my parents' fault: they didn't get me baptised (not that I want to be, but it's a handy excuse). So I was headed south anyways. =P

Operation Christmas Party Dress Resumes!

After catching up on all my favourite tv shows last night, I slept in a little this morning. While I ate breakfast (oatmeal, wheat bran, moo, almond butter, nutella) and sipped some chai, I got started renewing my license to practice. It took me over an hour and I've just got to confirm my total number of hours worked this year with HR and get a few pieces of documentation and I'm good to go for next year. Oh, and pay the fee! Sheesh, good thing there's an extra pay period in October!

I headed out for a walk in the drizzle. I still feel a little to phlegm-y to hit bootcamp tonight so I walked instead. Garmin says:
51:22 min
5.46 km
378 cal

I came home and started a batch of aloo ghobi. In my heavy skillet went:
2 TB canola oil
1 chopped white onion
4 big baby white potatoes (not baby babies, but not ones you have to peel)
3 big baby red potatoes

I sauteed that over med-high heat for about 10 minutes, just till the spuds started to brown. Then I added a small head of cauliflower, chopped into big florets. I cooked that for another 5 minutes and then added a jar of The Curry Queen's Vindaloo Sauce. Their website isn't working, but you can find it in Calgary at Community Foods or the Cookbook Company (downtown or the Farmer's Market). While that simmered, I rolled out my yoga mat.

58 minutes of practicing with Padma at myyogaonline.com and I've totally got yoga brain. I turned up the heat a bit, threw in a cup of frozen green peas and now I'm ready to dig in. Oh, and there's a garnish of fresh cilantro and dollop of plain yogurt, too. (Well, there would have been yogurt but it was all mouldy. Boo!) All served on 1 cup of bulgur.


I love bulgur! Why, you ask?
a) It's quick and easy. 1:1 ratio boiling water to grain. Cover and let sit.
b) It always turns out. Rice requires a bit more finesse.
c) It's good for me! 1 cup works out to 2 WW points. Can't beat that.

And with that, my friends, I'm back in the game. Bring on the Christmas Party Dresses!!

Lazy Sunday

I've had a very lazy day--I like it! I got up and sat in my jammies while I read blogs and played Solitaire on the computer. All I have learned is that I am a terrible gambler and should never go to Vegas!

Hit the Farmer's Market this afternoon to stock up on fruit and veg. Had lunch (falafel from the Greek gals) and headed home to continue my losing card game. Nerm's been hanging out with me, she's been awfully cuddly since I broached the subject of a sibling....

Made an amazing dinner (although it is not appealing to look at)! I steamed a 'sgetti squash while I roasted some garlic, an onion, tomatoes and peppers with some EVOO and S & P. When it was done, I threw it all in a pan with a grated zucchini, some kalamata olives, capers, crushed red pepper, & lemon juice. I threw in a can of tuna for some protein, too and at the very end, tore up all the basil I had left and threw it in. YUMMY! I topped it off with some feta and now I'm trying to sit and wait for 20 minutes before I dig in again.

1 hour later edit: So by the time I pulled myself out of my gambling-induced coma, I was (a) in the hole over $1300 (good thing it's not real!) and (b) not as hungry as I thought. I aliquotted what was left of dinner and if I had more, there weren't quite two servings left. So in the tupperware it went! Instead, I sliced up a big Honeycrisp apple from the market and now me and Nerm are settled in and catching up with our peeps in Weatherfield.

Lazy day

Not much going on today:

-went to WW bright and early this morning. My scale is better, although both were down.

-bought cat food at the clinic and met an adorable tabby named Marcus. He looks like he could be Nerm's brother. Currently contemplating an addition to our family. Should our duo become a trio?

-came home and napped with Nerm in a sunbeam.

-walked over to the Stampede grounds to attend the Rocky Mountain Food and Wine Festival with C. & S. Had some yummy reds and some mediocre food. I think my favourite was the assorted cheese plate. I've yet to meet a cheese I didn't like.

-Now me and Nerm are hanging out, playing solitaire and thinking of going to bed...

Still sick...

Egad, I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired! I woke up this morning feeling somewhat better, but still feverish and achy. Called in sick and was told I needed a sick note.

OK, fine, I'll go sit in the walk-in clinic, being exposed to all kinds of germs and nastiness when all I need is another day of rest. Whatever. Jump through the hoops, H.

I get a lovely doc who looked at me, listened to my chest, my cough, looked in my ears and throat and said, 'Yep, you've got bronchitis. No work for you till Tuesday. You'll be better by then.'

So my boss thought he was gonna get a note just for today got one that instead said I'm off till Tuesday. Karma's a bitch sometimes.

H =)

Recap

OK, here's what's been going on:

- I managed to pull of Thanksgiving dinner for 12 with no stove top or oven. Thank goodness C. cooked the turducken at her house and I had the foresight to buy an electric frying pan last Friday. Between that and the crock pot, dinner was a success!

- Why won't the stove work? Turns out the handy man I hired last week that replaced a kitchen outlet knows jack shit about doing such things. It wasn't split, so it kept tripping the breaker and blowing the fuse downstairs. $454.65 later (for the appliance guy and electrician) I now have a functioning stove and oven again. Sheesh.

- I love my old house! Why? The radiator in the bathroom is a perfect towel warmer when I'm soaking in the claw foot tub. Pure bliss.

- I'm still sick. I felt really good on Monday, but then got slammed that night. I stayed home from work on Tuesday, went to a walk in clinic and got antibiotics to treat the sinus infection and came home to sleep. Went to work yesterday, only to be forced outside (sans coat) for a freaking fire drill! Guess who stayed home sick today? Yep, me and Nerm are catching a sunbeam in front of the fire. =P

- Hoping I'll feel better soon so that I can get out running and back to boot camp.

Grrrr!

So my stove is STILL not fixed! The appliance repair guy came out yesterday afternoon only to tell me that it's an electrical problem in the breaker box, not the stove. Ever tried to find an electrician that will work on a Sunday?

Grrrrr...I have a huge turducken that needs to be cooked and I can't eat it all by myself (hence the 12 guests)!

I'm feeling slightly better today but I'm not going to go to S's parent's for dinner. Better to stay home, drink OJ and medicate, I think.

I may have to brave to cold outdoors. I'm outta OJ. Boo.

Good news! The electrician came and fixed the problem so my stove works! Yaaay! And I don't need to brave the cold outdoors. My mom is coming and bringing me OJ. I'm so spoiled! =P

The up side

of being sick?

WI -2.8 this morning! A day on clear fluids will do that for ya.

I've managed to catch up on some much needed sleep (even though some of it has been drug induced).

My throat feels 100X better today, but my heads all stuffed up and I am forced to be a mouth breather. Ewww.

Happy weekend!

Feeling like a truck ran over me...

Even chicken noodle soup isn't making me feel much better. I'm drinking hot water with lemon and watching Corrie and feeling sorry for myself. =)

I do have a lovely cranberry-ginger chutney simmering in the new electric frying pan I had to go and buy. It smells wonderful and will taste oh, so yummy on the turducken!

Happy Friday!

Friday

Normally I would be ecstatic over having a Friday off. Not today. Why?

1. I woke up with a super sore throat and virtually no voice.
2. My oven is STILL not working, apparently the burners are also not working and my landlord thinks he won't get to it till Saturday. And if it's NOT a fuse, he doesn't know what's wrong with it. Ummm...I did tell you I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner for TWELVE on Monday, right?!
3. The Shaw guys showed up at my door, even after I CONFIRMED that the appointment was cancelled since they fixed the problem on Monday.
4. Since I don't have a lot of prepackaged food in my house, everything requires a freaking STOVE or OVEN to prepare! Grrr...

Maybe I'll just go back to bed for awhile...

Fairweather Boot Camper

Yep, that's me.

It's snowing outside. Half an hour ago it couldn't decide if it should be raining or snowing, so there were small hail-like bits of frozen ice hitting me.

Since I'm not in boot camp to prepare me to defend my country, I see no reason why I should subject my arthritis-prone joints to such indignities. Instead, I shall pull out my hula hoop, free weights and yoga mat and come up with some sort of activity to prepare me to wear a Christmas party dress. Oh yeah, did I tell you the great news? The party's been moved...AHEAD by a week! Egad!

And there's vino and homemade pizza for dinner! Mmmm!

OK. So I've done my own boot camp that involved:
- warm up (jogging, skipping, marching)
- squats (plie and regular)
- lateral and front shoulder raises
- tricep extensions and kick backs
- bicep curls
- plank
- V-sit with shoulder raises
- flyes
- hula hooping for 10+ minutes

Followed all that with some yoga:
- pigeon
- thread the needle
- reclined cobbler
- reclined twists
- firebird


Only to discover that my oven is not cooking my pizza! EGAD! I think it's the element and I've got a call in to the landlord but holy smokes, I made a mean pizza and now I want it!!

Update: S saved me and my pizza! Whoo hoo! It was tres yummy. And now my cozy bed beckons. 'Night, all!

Operation CPD: Day 2

So far, so good!

Garmin says:
5.13K
41:06 min
7.5km/h
388 cal

Followed up my run with some yoga: low lunge, reclined cobbler's pose, child's pose, seated and reclining twists, eagle, hero, lotus.

Gotta hop in the shower, I'm meeting G. for noodles!

Running Goals

You may notice a new ticker in my heading.


Yep, that's right. I'm going to run across the country. Terry Fox ran a marathon a day on one leg and fighting cancer. I am healthy, have two (relatively) good legs and need a new goal. While I have no intention of running 42.2 km every day, I think it'll be a cool way to track my running. Since I hate hills, I'd like to get them outta the way first, so I'm starting in my fave city, Fun-couver.

The only race I'm currently registered for is Winterstart on November 7. It's 8 km. I plan on registering for Around the Bay in Hamilton in March. Egad, 30K! Fun-couver again in May (there's another 21.1), Melissa's in September (22). This could take awhile...

Stay tuned!

Operation CPD - Day 1

Just finished an hour long boot camp session! We ran a little, lifted a little, ran some more, did some plankity-plank-planks and abs. Before I knew it, it was over!

Heated up some chicken lentil soup I'd frozen. A slice of Squirrelly bread and it's all good. It's soup weather in Calgary today. Fall has definitely made its appearance! I think the high was +6C.

I threw a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas into my stand-by Greek salad for lunch. Oh. My. God! Why have I never done this before?! Now, if I can keep the snack attack at bay tonight, today will be a complete success. The forecast for tomorrow is a chinook (yaaay!) and highs of 15C. Perfect for an after work run!

Operation Christmas Party Dress:

Begins today!

S's company has a big fancy-schmancy Christmas party every year (I work in health care. We don't get those kinds of things). This year the party is on a Sunday (WTF? But whatever!). December 13, to be exact.

So this morning I tried on my fabulous party dresses.



Both are just a smidge tight. Even with Spanx, I need to lose some inches!

And that, my friends, is how Operation Christmas Party Dress was born! How will this happen, you ask? Combined with clean eating, here's the workout plan:

-Monday: Bootcamp
-Tuesday: Run, yoga
-Wednesday: Bootcamp
-Thursday: Run, yoga
-Friday: Bootcamp
-Saturday: REST
-Sunday: LSD, yoga

My favourite cousin, Doyle, and I are also going to resume aquasize. Not sure when, but it's on the table.

Today's food so far:
-oatmeal (skim moo, 9 grain oats, almond butter, nutella, dried cherries), chai (skim moo)
-London fog (homemade, half sweet, skim moo)

Lunch will be homemade Greek salad with chickpeas

Bootcamp this afternoon, then homemade lentil chicken soup.

Have a great day!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

It's off to work I go!

And it's a good day to be working, too. There's snow coming down and it's cold and wet. I'd rather be curled up by the fire with Nerm, but it's not like I'll be missing anything going on outside!

Hit the farmer's market this morning and picked up some stuff: apples (honeycrisps), potatoes, peppers, feta, gouda, pita, & cranberries.

Jamie, our favourite Indian place in Calgary is the Taj Mahal. Moti Mahal and Namskar are close seconds. Yummy!

Alas, gotta change and get out the door.

Have a great Sunday!

Question for the Halifax Peeps

So I'm merrily reading the new issue of Best Health and come across an article about jane's on the common. It's touted as one of Canada's healthiest restaurants. So tell me, is it really that good? 'Cause the recipe for black bean stew that accompanied the article looks amazing and I can't wait to try it!

Work was better today. Much, much better. I had my super-tech cape on and not only managed to get through over 1000 samples, we also got some quality control testing done. Whoo hoo!

A quick nap then my boy took me out for dinner. Mmmm...curry...so yummy! And our fave restaurant has a deal on where you can get about 15 things (includes appetizers, main, rice, naan, dessert and chai) for $25. Sign me up! 'Course the boy isn't into trying new things (especially if they involve veggies or cheese) so he stuck with a tried and true favourite: tandoori platter.

Now me and Nerm are cuddled up on the couch with the fire blazing. Who could ask for more?

Got it!

The turducken, that is! A whole lotta meat (turkey, stuffed with duck stuffed with chicken stuffed with stuffing) for Turkey day. Mmmmm....can't wait for all the fixin's, either!

Had a rotten day at work--first day back and it sucked. I hope that it wasn't the precursor to my weekend there.

But, I did manage to convince my boy that I deserved dinner out tomorrow. ;)
It wasn't that hard to do, although I feel slightly bad that he's ditching his brother for me. OK, who am I kidding? I don't feel that bad!!

Night, night!