3:02:18

Melissa's Road Race 2010

22K (only scheduled for a 19K run this week)
gale forced winds
sunshine
mountains
beer and nachos after
hot springs
comfy condo in Canmore

All in all, a great weekend with good friends!

Pictures to follow.

All About Nerm

Today is Nerm's birthday! Well, not technically her birthday, but it's her second birthday with me!

She's taught me patience, made me laugh out loud, cry, and giggle (often all in the same day). She's shown me that it is possible to mend a broken heart and love again.

She knows that kitty spit is the secret to perfectly white paws & that there is a mouse graveyard under the couch ('specially the green ones!).

She's shown me that the secret to a perfect adho mukha svanasana (downward facing dog) is active paws and melting your heart so that your spine lengthens.

She's taught me to slow down and appreciate the joy in basking in the warmth of a fire and watching the flames flicker.

But best of all is a head-butt and a snuggle.

I ♥ you, Nermal Ruth.
Your Human

Shopping!

In my own closet!

I love it!!

Tonight I went out with two of my very favourite people, S & L. We decided that maybe Monday night was the night to try and score a table at UNA pizzeria on 17th ave (formerly the Wicked Wedge). Success!

But rewind a little.

Yoga play date with Sonya--lots of catching up and warm up of chandra namaskar (moon salutations in honour of the upcoming equinox). Then we played upside down for awhile. My handstand prep is coming along--it's really disconcerting being upside down like that! Progress is definitely being made though and I'm feeling it now in my arms/shoulders/back. I tried headstand (freestyle in the middle of the room) but after all my handstand work, my body just said, "Nope. Not today." So headstand will wait till tomorrow. Sonya did some handstand (and went right over into a full wheel (urdvha dhanurasana) but not on purpose--oops!) and forearm balancing before we decided to tackle the sequence to end all sequences: Eye of the Tiger!

It basically takes all of the yoga poses from the 3 Anusara syllabi and links them together in a practice that can take up to four hours to complete from start to finish. We made it through most of the standing poses today...but still got all of the elements of a good practice in:

warm up
inversion
standing poses
twists
forward bends
savasana

But I digress. I was talking about shopping!

Our playdate turned into a 2.5 hour practice (eeek! where did the time go?) I hopped in the shower and tried to decide what to wear.

I ended up in a pair of trouser jeans I found in my closet (2 sizes smaller than the ones I was lamenting about earlier this week). Whoo hoo!

And a gorgeous brown and pink silk camisole I forgot I had. Jean jacket. Brown scarf. Brown boots.

None of which I have worn in the last year and half. Well, except maybe the boots!

The food? Tasty. Would I wait for an hour or more? Nope.

It's not just about the scale

Hell, no. I try and take my measurements every month. Since August 15, here's the deets:

Weight: -5.2 pounds
Ribs (under bustline): -7/8"
Upper arm: -1/2"
Belly button: -1/2"
Hips: -1/4"
Thigh: -3/4"
Bust: STS (Thank God the Girls aren't going anywhere!)

Total: 2 7/8" (that's almost 3 inches in a month!)

I'll take it.

And, last night I wore the pants from the suit I bought when I was at goal weight. Granted, the Spanx kept me sucked in, but I could not only breathe, I could also eat without blowing a button or a seam.

Smorgasborg of things...

The scale did not go up or down today: it stayed right smack dab where it was last week.

I've been toying with when to do my long run (16K) this week:

- today, after work
- tomorrow, before work at 11 am
- Monday morning

Keep in mind I'm doing next week's long run (22K, supposed to be only 19K) at Melissa's on Saturday.

I'd decided to try after work, but then thought better of it. I am a morning runner. My routine is down pat for a morning run:

- get up
- brekkie and caffeine
- move a little
- pit stop
- RUN

Running in the afternoon is tough for me: when to eat? what to eat? how much to eat?

I also have a job that has me on my feet and moving for the better part of 8 hours, so....decision made. I'm going to my friend's parent's new Persian restaurant for dinner, then to bed at a reasonable hour, getting a solid 7-8 hours of sleep, getting up and going for a run before work. (And then I'm going to hear Sarah Harmer!)

And I'll sleep in on Monday! Followed by a yoga playdate, dinner at UNA pizza and maybe a free yoga class at Lulu...

TGIF!

Why does short shifting always seem like a good idea, but when it actually happens, it isn't so much fun? Good thing is this time around, I short shift before rather than after. I had to work evenings on Wednesday then days on Thursday so that I can have next Friday off. While I'm enjoying a peaceful, quiet day in a sleepy mountain town (in a kick-ass condo) I shall remember that this was worth it!

Had a spur of the moment dinner with Michelle and came home to jammies and Nerm. I picked up my knitting and am happy to report that I am now officially over half done the baby afghan!! Which is good because I've found some other projects that I want to work on: meditation shawls for my yogi girls and the new pattern I'm learning at the end of October--I'm thinking a cape or toque or both!

My grandparents got word last week: they move the first weekend of October!

I'm off to drink one last cup of tea and knit a few more rows before bed. Oh, and guess who won free tickets to see Sarah Harmer on Sunday night?!

Nighty-night

I had a sore, scratchy throat that got worse as the day progressed. My coffee date with a friend got postponed till next week, so I headed to Sunterra to pick up some fresh (and LOCAL) fruit and OJ. Cinnamon buns (ooey, gooey, sticky cinnamon buns) may have also made it into my backpack.

They are for breakfast on Saturday morning, apres weigh in.

While on the bus to the store, I texted Carol:

Sore, scratchy throat. Noodles?

So off we went to our favourite noodle house for beef sate pho with extra veggies and lots of green tea. Mmmmmmmmm......

Had a good visit on the phone with my mom and also confirmed with my doctor friend that, yes, it IS possible to get strep throat (it's at work) even though I've had a tonsillectomy. Doctor's orders: wash your hands!!

And now I'm going to go to bed and catch some zzzzz's.

A lovely quote from my yoga teacher:

The descending current manifests as the individual. The liberating current connects the individual to the universal. The place in the middle is our heart.

Glorious!

While the day started out rainy and icky, the rest of my day off was glorious!

- a nap on the couch with Nerm and the fireplace on

- catching up with my cousin on the phone

- knitting

- an amazing yoga class! Who knew that backbends could be so much fun? Ustrasana (camel), I heart you! (and now can't get the song, Alice the Camel, out of my head!)

Time for bed!

Seriously?

Did I move to Vancouver and not realize it?! It's about 7C and drizzling here. Oh, and 91% humidity. It made for a damp run, that's for sure!

44 min, 5.98km and 486 calories burned. Honolulu, here I come!

Not just for a marathon, but for the summer I never had.

In other news, it seems that Reitmans thinks I have also moved to Vancouver. In the spring I emailed them and asked them, ever so politely, to puh-leeeease bring back their trouser jeans. They fit me perfectly and make my ass look good. But now I need a new *smaller* size! Alas, they don't make them anymore. So someone from head office responded and said (I'm paraphrasing), "don't despair, H-woman, in the fall they will return."

Last week mom and I spent some time shopping and let me tell ya, there wasn't a trouser jean to be found. And no, skinny jeans look good on no one, especially someone with thighs like mine!

So I emailed and asked (again, ever so politely) when, exactly, could I expect to see said trouser jeans in my neck of the woods? I was given the phone number for a store in Vancouver and one in West Van to call. Ummmm...ok, but I live in Calgary!

But I phoned, just to say that I had. Turns out the 'trouser jeans' this customer service dude/dudette (I can't tell from the name) is talking about is NOT the trouser jean I seek! Call me crazy, but I like a jean with a waistband, fly and button, not slip on pseudo-fat pants. Now, I know that their Comfort pant is comfortable, I even own a pair. And they are also too big, which is why I seek new pants!

But the Comfort pant is all they now carry. Arrrrrgh! And it's not what I want at all.

*le sigh*

I've sent an email to Lynn Spence c/o Cityline in the hopes that she may be able to point me in a trouser jean direction.

An added bonus of the jean dilemma in my house: I tried on my favourite cammo-corduroy-cargo pants that I bought in Hawaii while I was at goal weight.

drum roll, please

THEY FIT!

And I can breathe! (an added bonus)

So, the crisis is somewhat averted. I have at least one pair of pants that I can wear. They're just uber casual, so I guess I'll have to schedule my social life accordingly.

=)

Mayo and Coffee?

I found this on Crystal's blog this morning and had to share!

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
When 24 hours in a day is not enough;
remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly,
he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and start to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again
if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand
and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded
With an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - God, family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions
Things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --
The small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are
important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time
to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand
and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.

'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Please share this with other "Golf Balls"

I just did ...

Sunday Long Slow Run

It's freaking cold out there this morning! It was 3C and 91% humidity when I left this morning. I could see my breath! I have to admit that it's nicer to run and get warm than start out hot and get even hotter. And let's face it, I'm not one of those girls who 'glows'. Oh no, I SWEAT. I turn red. It's not overly attractive, but it feels good!

So today had me scheduled for 10K. Garmin says:
1:20:01
10.43 km
846 cal

We never did make it out for a bike ride. We stopped at Lulu to pick up a few things *grin*, went to Chapters where Michelle got me a journal just like hers! It's fabulous: on the left side, each day of the week. On the right, space for notes! Oh the stickers I can fill this book with! And it's a great way to see your week at a glance.

We attempted to find somewhere relatively healthy for dinner. Easier said than done! We tried a Vietnamese place down by Chinook. No go--closed for renos. Bonus was that we were right by Community, so we stopped to pick up some coconut water (natural gatorade) for our runs today. We wound up at Broken Plate in Willow Park. Mmmmm....Greek food!

We were starving but the host sat us at the bar and immediately (or so it seemed) we had drinks and pita and dips (hummus, tzatziki, red pepper/feta, eggplant). We took our time and didn't order right away. I hate when you order appies and an entree and after three bites of appetizer the entree arrives! It was nice to be able to savour the food. Moussaka for me and halibut for Michelle and we were nicely full.

How will the rest of my day go? Nothing too exciting, I'm afraid. Shower, eat, make lunch, go to work. Oh well, I get Monday and Tuesday off!

Happy Day!

It's the Weekend!

Reasons to celebrate:

- Michelle's in town again this weekend!

- The AMAZING fish and chips with tartar sauce I made for dinner last night. The recipe in Crazy Plates was a guide, I added some Epicure Tyee fish rub (I think it's just called fish rub now, 'cause nobody knows what "tyee" means. FYI: "the big one") to the coating. I also fiddled with the tartar sauce: I added 1/2 TB asparagus relish from the farmer's market and a chopped sweet pickle for the sweet relish and then added capers just cause capers make everything better.

- The Peach & Raspberry Cobbler I made. I was inspired by Jaime's post the other day. I substituted raspberries for the blackberries (I'm not a big fan) and Oh My! A photo doesn't do this baby justice, so I won't include one.

- My WI. Another 0.4 gone. I like it.

- Starting the day with an awesome Yoga class filled with wonderful yogis and an inspiring teacher. Mind, body and spirit are all happy.

- Registering for a knitting workshop! A new skill: entrelac! It looks like this. I WILL have the baby blankie done by then, I swear!

- Registering for a weekend workshop with another wonderful yoga teacher!

- A bike ride, perhaps? We'll see what Mother Nature has in store for later this afternoon.

- An afternoon nap with Nerm. Need I say more?

Down 0.4!

I'll take it!

That is all.

Rockin' my world!

A few things that are rockin' my world of late:

- the assortment of flavourful herbal teas I've been drinking

- my run this afternoon--today was the day the walking interval got smaller. Yep, I was slower, but I did every single interval, all 11 of them! 44 min, 5.60 km. Check!

- the lasagna that I whipped up with some sauce I'd frozen awhile ago, some extra lean ground chicken, onion, cottage cheese and mozzarella. Mmmmm...I heart my convection oven it cooks things so much quicker!

- my rib cage. It's been hiding under a layer of adipose tissue for quite some time and has recently made a reappearance.

- did I mention the tea?

April 1998-Sept. 7, 2008

It took me putting a sticker on my calendar tonight (for yoga practice) to realize that my beloved Kitty, also known as Doodlebug and Ma peitite chou chou, has been gone for two years. I realize now how much she taught me: unconditional love, patience, living in the moment and the pure joy of basking in a sunbeam.

Even though I lost a huge part of me two years ago, I appreciate the gifts I was given in return: my wonderful friend, Christie, who took care of Kitty while she was sick, held my hand and cried along side me as we said goodbye to her and my little Nerm.

**There will come a time when you believe that everything is finished. That will be the beginning.** Louis L'Amour

I miss you, Doodlebug.

Back to School Goal Setting

I spent a lot of years in school:
1980-1993 (K-12)
1993-1998 (U of A BSc MLS)
2007-2008 (Athabasca U)
2010 (Jan-Jun Yoga Teacher Training).

I'm one ed-u-ma-cated chick!

September is a better "new" year for me than January. I also feel compelled to go buy stationery. Is it bad that I was literally drooling over my friend Michelle's weekly planner on the weekend? I still want one! Maybe when she returns on Friday we can go on a shopping mission. Although, we discovered that we know how to do some serious damage to the bank account when we went hog-wild at Lulu on Sunday, but really, how much could you spend at Staples? Never mind, don't answer that!

So what's the point to this, you ask? Well, my goals lately (I can't remember the exact day I started, but it's been a few weeks now):

1. Stop eating before 2000h (that's 8 p.m. if you don't do the 24-hour clock thing). Sometimes this may not happen, especially when I work evening shifts, but the intent is to eat dinner and then STOP.

2. Drink more herbal tea. See #1 above. No eating after 8, but who said no drinking?! I stocked up this weekend:

From Teaopia: Coconut Cream Green, Wild Cherry and Pina Colada.
From Banff Tea Co.: Women's Keep Well-Uma & Chocolate Mint Rooibos.

3. Sleep 7-8 hours each night.

Most nights, it's worked just fine! I'm currently sipping some delightful Coconut Cream green tea.

Note to Self:
Drinking wine on a school night is neither in alignment with the above stated goals nor conducive to getting up for work in the morning! But it was good wine and great company!

Long Slow Monday

I keep forgetting it's Monday today! I ran past a church this morning and couldn't figure out why the parking lot was empty...

My arse was protesting my bike ride from Saturday so I didn't run yesterday. That means today's the day!

2.04.16
15.33 km
1162 cal

Did some stretching and had some chocolate milk. Now I'm trying to figure out what's for lunch. Maybe I should shower first, though!

Lazy Sunday

After yesterday's big kahuna bike ride (19 km each way) from Harvie Heights to Banff, then shopping (I stocked up on this and this at the Banff Tea Co. & bought yummy caramels at my favourite candy shop), walking most of the way to the Hot Springs, soaking for a bit, walking back to the bikes and riding into a head wind all the way back to Harvie Heights (big storm was moving in!), Michelle and I didn't feel the running mojo this morning. It rained all night and is still raining...Did I mention how sore my ass is this morning?!

We did, however, wander down to Lulu to do a little shopping! We found some things while we were in Banff, but didn't have room in the pannier to hold it all, so we were women on a mission (in Mission, hee hee) this morning! And the best part: I scored a yoga class to teach! Lulu has free classes on Monday nights, and I am scheduled to teach the Oct. 4 class at the 4th Street location. Whoo hoo!









I also bought the Revitalize Tech Short sleeve, and a Run Swiftly in grey but Blogger won't let me upload the photos. Thank goodness for a discount, is all I can say!!

The rest of my day is pretty low key: laundry, finish An Echo in the Bone (OMIGOD, I love, love, love Jamie Fraser!), and dinner with my cousin and her hubby.

Down 1.8!

That is all =)

Gettin' Ready...

For the Long Weekend!

-spent some time tidying last night. My house looked like a bomb went off.

-I even did some laundry. Not much, but a little!

-Concert tonight with Michelle. We're going to see John Hiatt at the Jack Singer Concert Hall.

-Doctor's appointment tomorrow, then bus ride home (always entertaining).

-Biking Canmore to Banff on Saturday! Should be fun, fun, fun! I think a picnic is definitely in order, along with a stop in the tea shop to stock up! Mmmm...chocolate mint tea, anyone?

-Long run on Saturday (14.5K)

And I'm really proud of myself for pushing my ass out the door last night for a walk. I wasn't feeling the running mojo, but I knew I should get out and move. 45 minutes and almost 5K later, I felt much better. I even put the book down early *gasp* and went to sleep before 11!

Woke up this morning still loving my hair (all the sparkly bits got covered yesterday and we chopped off a few inches) but annoyed as I seem to be kind of snuffly. I hope it's just lack of sleep catching up with me and NOT the cold that my co-worker has brought to work with her for the last week. Cold-FX is my friend! Now, off to make my lunch!
Happy Thursday!