It's Here!!!

After a couple years talking about it, looking for the perfect fit, thinking about it, looking again, thinking again and then much debate, the new couch has finally arrived!! I never realized what a big decision furniture was...over 10 years ago when we first got a couch we had two things in mind while looking...cheap but comfortable. This time around we had to be committed to our decision, find something affordable, comfortable, durable, dog friendly (because at our house the dogs tend to make themselves comfortable...usually at the expense of the "master's" comfort), went with the decor in the room (not an issue with apartment white walls) and we would like for many years to come. And just to prove that this couch was our destiny, we would have never even seen it had we not cut through the furniture store on the way to patronize the Geek's restaurant! So with that...the new couch came in...the old couch went to the dump...I think I saw a tear in the dogs' eyes as we hauled it out to the truck...I can guarantee there were no tears shed by the master at the dump...sorry boys!

A warm welcome to my sister, who finally decided to leave me a comment under her own name....but hasn't signed up as a follower quite yet...whatareyouwaitingfor Mooch??!! Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!! :)

Swimmin'

Happy Tuesday...after taking yesterday off because I seemed to have a touch of whatever stomach bug is infesting the area, I hit the pool to make up my swim. November through February are tough in terms of pool access here...with swim league and high school swim, the lanes are limited as are the times. I knew it would probably be a little busy, but then again swimming before 4pm I thought I might catch a break...what a dreamer I am! It all started with the high school swim kids getting out of the pool...I was just about ready to jump in and start my warm up when they all exited...I knew they'd be shifting the lanes and so I walked up to the lifeguard to see if they were indeed shifting lanes and asked where I should start. The answer, "Well you can just swim over there until the high school swim is over." Not wanting to be a pain and point out that they were all out of the pool, I dutifully started my warm up and wasn't even 200 meters in when the same lifeguard is yelling at me to move over...I resisted the urge to tell him it would have been much easier for all parties if he had just let me start in the lanes that were going to be open. So with my workout underway, I'm about to start my main set when this kid jumps in my lane...jumps as in I'm 1 stroke from the wall about to flip turn and he jumps in practically on top of me. Again I keep my cool and continue swimming. Well midway through my first of many 200's he's standing in the middle of the pool 3 feet from the wall with his girlie draped across the wall discussing something I'm sure was completely earth shatteringly important, you know like why she skipped out of home room or if her friend's sister's sister liked liked him...so I stop, calmly tell them I respect that they are getting their workout in too, but seriously, pick a side of the wall that lets all parties swim continuously...he gave me the it's all about me attitude, I kept swimming. Eventually the love birds left the lane, enter another guy who was easy to share with until the "I can't swim an entire 25 meters without stopping" lady got in. Now, I know I'm not the most patient person in the world, but seriously, look at the people swimming before you hop in a lane and start getting in the way. Grrrrr!!
Saturday was the second race of the distance series for me...it was a perfect day for running...cool temps...partly sunny skies (until the rain started)...perfect. I had a great race, felt strong the whole way, did a super duper (if I don't say so myself) job of pacing for the race and while I think I could have pushed the pace a bit more, it is early in the season so I was satisfied and feel good about where I am with respect to my upcoming year.
Yesterday while recuperating, I was reading an article about how the Girl Scouts are downsizing their cookies this year...anyone that has ever ordered a box of Samoas over the years knows that they've been downsizing for quite some time now...right mom!! But let's face it, I still love those thin mints, so when the little girl down the block knocked at my door, I ordered some! Gotta keep the GS in business--some one's gotta have a job!
Hope everyone is having an great week so far! :)

SNOW!!!

In case you didn't hear, it was supposed to snow today...they closed schools...the salt trucks were out...and well...not even a snow flake...but we were prepared!! :)
In other really exciting news, the second race of the distance series is this weekend...thankfully I am now breathing much easier so hopefully it'll be a bit more enjoyable than the last time--wish me luck! Otherwise I'm trying to get used to the new work schedule and figure out how to get my runs and swims in on the same day without running out of time. I'm thinkin' Jimbo's got a mole that follows me around since just this past weekend I was thinking out loud on my long run how Drill Night Mondays haven't been too drill filled...boy was that a premature thought!! A main set of 3600 meters of drilling last night...I will never complain again...or at least you won't hear me because I'm drowning trying to figure out how to do change 10 and breathe while staying afloat without fins OR water wings...wasn't pretty...but at least I wasn't in the early onset dementia lane, so I've got something going for me!
Hope every one's having a fun filled Inauguration day!!

A Belated Christmas!

Despite the rumors, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! After spending an awesome weekend with the parental units celebrating Christmas belatedly, catching up with friends and actually catching a glimpse of the nocturnal animal we call Geek, I've been trying to get things done around the house, work and get all those workouts in to boot...funny how quickly you forget how much time two workouts a day take! I think I've had the same conversation with my ego on several occasions the past two weeks...it goes something like this...
ego...ugh, I can't believe that interval was so slow
me...it wasn't that slow
ego...well a few months ago you were easily holding this interval, now you are struggling
me...hello, it's January...relax, it all takes time
...anyone else in the same dilemma?? I know I have plenty of time for my upcoming season, and I need to be patient...I just need to keep reminding the ego!
So other important things...The 2008 Rock of the Year is Copper! Yes, while most kids believe the only reason they'd ever get a rock in their stockings is because they've been bad, at our house, we'd be worried we were bad if we didn't get a rock...having a rock jock for a dad, we learned to love all things rocks, minerals and mines at an early age! And we got a bonus rock this year, taconite pellets...all uniform in size, unlike those we used to collect at the train tracks on the way up to visit the grandparents in the UP of MI. I'll have to post pictures once the hubby brings home the camera!
I also got in a great run along the Silver Crescent Trail...


a nice change in scenery and mother nature decided to wait to rain/snow until I got home...Thanks to Sonia and the rest of the Pacers gang that let me tag along for their run!
And most importantly we got to catch up with friends we haven't seen in a while...it's amazing how quickly kids grow up...I used to think people were silly every time they saw me and the first thing they said is, "oh, look how big you've gotten..."...I totally get it now!
But now back to the daily grind...I was glad to see Mr. My Sweatshirt Is too Small to Cover My Belly on the trail during my intervals today...although along with his belly...he had shorts on, and while our weather is in no way as cold as it is up north...it is darn cold here...I looked like the stay puff marshmallow girl compared to him...BURR!! I wonder what happens if your beer belly gets frostbite....ok, maybe I shouldn't wonder!
I hope everyone is having a great week so far...stay warm...it's off to bed early for me...gotta get some GRE studying done...I'm sure that'll be exciting! :)

Confessions...

I need to come clean about a couple of things...

Yes, it was me that brought the carrot cake into work yesterday...I know you are all on some kinda new fangle diet to celebrate the new year, but really, it's made with a vegetable, and for the record, I didn't hold your mouth open and force you to eat it...so please stop telling me about how I'm ruining your diet while you eat the moist, cream cheese frosting covered delight...and just admit, it was good AND worth a few extra calories!

I rode my trainer today...for the first time in a couple months...D I know I promised to get on the bike a few times in the month of December but I just couldn't get past admiring it while it sat quietly on the trainer all clean and sparkly...although for the record, the bike told me it didn't want to get all sweaty and who am I to argue with the blue roo?!...glad today was an aerobic workout 'cause that "test" Thursday will probably kill me! It was nice knowing everyone...JK!

I love Bret Michael's Rock of Love...some time during the first season I got sucked in, and while I knew neither of the final two was a good choice, you went ahead with the young one ensuring a season 2...I can respect that, you are a rock star! And watch season 2 I did....RELIGIOUSLY...and while I though you had made a better choice, I wasn't entirely surprised when VH1 announced season 3..."HI-OOOOO" the drama...I'm so glad for this guilty pleasure while I sweat away on the trainer...my only complaint...the new TV (yes dear, the one above the fireplace that I NEVER wanted there for fear it would melt) is no where near the right viewing angle for riding...good think I've got a massage scheduled tomorrow to help with the crick in my neck! Oh, and Bret, even though you swear there will be no season 4, I promise to watch! :)

In other news...the essay is done...now all I have to do is study for the GRE's...so if anyone out there wants to start sending me new vocabulary words, please feel free to do so...but make sure they are something random or at least a normal every day word that has an obscure meaning, because otherwise, I'm sure it will never show up on the test! Also a big thanks to the master's swimmers for inviting me to your annual New Year's Day swim...I was a little disappointed last year that I didn't garner an invite, but am honored I was included this year on the 15 year tradition...Jimbo and Boston Mary thanks also for the AWESOME breakfast...the food was amazing and the door prizes fabulous. Thanks also to Mike for taking and sharing photos like this one....

...oh, and if you get the time, meander over to the Rainmaker's Blog he's on an epic trip and has some really awesome photos up. Happy Tuesday! :)

Happy 2009!!

Happy 2009 Everybody!! Well I started my quest to rediscover my inner athlete today at the Tidewater Striders' Distance Series Race #1. They hold this series every year during January and February as prep races for the Shamrock Marathon and half marathon. You have the option of either running a 10K, 15K and 20K or a 20K, 25K and 30K...after coming to terms with my ego after my disastrous race at Richmond this fall, I decided it would be much better to focus on events that would aid my race at Eagleman in June and not attempt an early season marathon...so I opted for the 10K today...and considering I've been battling some chest/sinus cold the past two weeks I was glad I did!! While I wasn't near race speed today, I did survive and make it back to my car (notice the map...duh, turn the garmin off!)...and the weather was pretty nice considering yesterday's cold rain. The upcoming week brings me back to full time training...so by tomorrow I will have that essay done...which means that I will actually have to get back on the bike instead of just looking at it and pay a little more attention to what I eat...I guess it was time to hang up the cookies anyway! Hope everyone had a good start to their 2009, Happy Training!