Weekly Recap: 11/13/2017 - 11/19/2017

Happy news!  I found homes for all but two of the sweaters. One I think is more a preemie size, or an American Girl Doll size (anyone Buller?) I'll pass on the preemie because it isn't a very soft sweater.  The other sweater I am holding on to for a girlfriend who is expecting in March, she is just 40 and married a year.  It's a girl sweater, so her baby is a girl, whoop!  If not then it goes in the pile with the rest of them to find homes.  I don't sell them, I give them away.  Maybe it is a weird Midwestern thing?  or a knitter thing?  I seriously have collected more yarn than I will ever knit and need to make some progress on my stash to a point before I donate it to a retirement home.   My husband suggested I make socks and give them away.  Um NO.  Socks are a whole different game than my basic baby sweater pattern.  If you get a pair of socks from me, that is a HUGE commitment you need to make to me for the rest of your life and the life of the socks. 

Monday -  Running today would be a two day in a row run for me.  I didn't bring my spin shoes and  had stupid meetings at the spin class time (I think) so I went out for a run in the neighborhood south of campus, it has wee tiny hills and close enough that I'm not more than 1/2 mile away in case I was so miserable I was done done done.    I got in 3 miles and was happy with that. 

Gus got out for a short walk where clearly we did not go where he wanted to go and then I dropped a glove and we had to backtrack.  His expressions and demeanor represented his disappointment in the entire walk. I do love curmudgeons, so it's hard not find his grouching completely adorable.

This was a different day, but he was very happy to dig through the recycling and he found something to nosh.

Tuesday - Not a running day, it was a meeting day, I never got to the gym.  I was in distress when I got home.  Gus was in a better mood, or I let him lead (surprisingly a guy I danced with said to me "Beth this would be so much easier if you let me lead."  Huh...)  We wandered here and there and down roads, I am not a fan of.  He was happy and that is really the purpose of our outings. 

Jax - he looks so sweet and innocent?
Don't let the asymmetrical face and tongue too big for his mouth fool you.

Wednesday - Run with Faith on the schedule.  After an issue with parking, we ended up starting from the Eastern Point Beach parking lot.  I got in just over 4 miles and that was good.  I am so not prepared for Li'l Rhody.  There will be a lot of walking and a LOT of pain after... but oh well.  I spend the day after Li'l Rhody under anesthesia, so I have that going for me pain management wise!! 

Took both the boys out for a walk, this is a miserable exercise, why do I do this?

Watchaug Pond at Burlingame

Thursday - Not a running day a cross-training day, Chris' HEAT class was its usual torture.  Cardio and Super Set intervals.  The jumping with the cardio makes my knees ache when I can modify to keep up my heart rate I do, and for the other times, I hope he shows the LOW IMPACT way to do the exercise.  Weights aren't a problem, well squats, I can go down 30%, so it is really a focus on engaging the right muscles and not being lazy.  Even though I feel like people watching are all like 'WTF that girl isn't doing it right'  but seriously any further and I am experiencing a level of pain you may never comprehend in my knees.  Pain isn't a good thing.

He's too freaking cute.

Friday - I felt like crap, I took a nap, I felt better, end of story.

Saturday - Helped mark the Li'l Rhody Runaround course.  My first time!  Very fun, and I enjoyed talking to John Hammet very much.  Went out with super cool runners for drinks and dinner!  All in all a great day!

Some of Runners Love Their Beer

When we run the same race, Leslie is the first woman I am the last!

Sunday - As I worked registration and realized I'd be running 8 miles on an empty stomach I was able to make the smart decision and not run.  Gus couldn't even get me out for a walk.  I'm really not pleasant when I can't eat.  End of story.

Add your own caption
Photo by Paul Gray

Mileage:

Feet:  21.8  (totally NOT meeting 2,016-mile goal this year, I'm 66 miles behind, no way to make THAT up - oh well)
Saddle:  0  (off week a the gym, no spin, and well otherwise it is dark or I was crabby)

Knitting:

Success in finding homes for sweaters!

Nearly finished a rose-colored sweater.  Happy to make some progress, it is TV and Knitting season for the evenings. 

Reading:

I finished "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman  I love, love, loved this book. Ove is a curmudgeon, but is he really? He has a huge heart it just takes a while to find it and a clear understanding of what it means to be Ove's friend. I listened to this and the narrator did such a great job, possibly making me love this book and Ove even more.  

I started "The Girl From The Train" by Irma Joubert, a book about a child escaping a train (which was blown up) headed for Auschwitz. 

All in all, not a bad or great week, it was a week.

Sincerely, 
Beth, happy to eat again, that was a long freaking 36 hours.

Weekly Recap: 11/6/2017 - 11/12/2017

Monday - Happy Monday I got to run again!  I ran 2 miles, I wanted to run more.  Ro reminded me to not overdo it.  2 was good, then we walked for a bit and ran another 1/2 mile.  I felt it in my quads on Tuesday morning!  I kinda missed that sore feeling from a good run.  Guess that was a good run?  I didn't want to walk any dogs and definitely didn't want to go twice, I took both of them.  The three of us were miserable.   Gus wants to walk, Jax wants to sniff, and I wanted to work on my to-do list (I never want to do that).

Thought this was really pretty.
Riverwood Preserve, Westerly, RI

Tuesday - Sore quads, were eased a bit in Addy's Circuit Class, or really "death spiral".  I can't even think up a good phrase.  Batan Death March comes to mind, but that may be a BIT over dramatic....  Then I went to Spin.  The second helping of torture was my call.  But I need to get back on that spin bike because the real bike is heading into the not so much season.  I was exhausted when I got home and it was raining and told Gus he needed a rest day.  He was not convinced.  He went to bed early and I am sure will have me up at 4 a.m. which he thinks is 5 a.m.  Maybe I'll walk him in the a.m. if I'm feeling up to it.  Bwahaaaaaaaa  I love to laze around in bed in the morning even if it is from 5 - 6 a.m.  it stills feels decadent. 

The Art Project - paw prints.  I have to get more clay and try over.
The treacherous trios look much better.

Wednesday - Awesome opportunity to tour the Dana Farber Cancer Insitute (DCFI) Lung Cancer research center.  This is where the money I raise (from a lot of you, thank you!) goes for research in detecting and treating lung cancer.

It was great to catch up with Diane and Kim and meet Lily, and David Sach's widow, Julie (it was their wedding anniversary) and Adam Klein (Survivor Fiji winner) his mother passed away from lung cancer two days after taping ended, she was diagnosed while he was on the show.

Diane looks great!  I was relieved, but I also know that anything to do with Lung Cancer advocacy energizes her and she gets such a lift from these events, it is good for her overall health.  Her cancer has made a reoccurrence and she is undergoing experimental treatments at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Kim's mother (7 years post diagnosis) had some reoccurring metastasis in the brain and had brain surgery earlier in the month, she is busy picking apart what information her parents share and trying to put together a story.  I am lucky, my parents tell me what they know, not what they think I should know.

Lily's father is newly diagnosed, March of 2016, and he rode his first Pan-Mass Challenge this year, and Lily will be riding next year.  Lily is young, just out of college, too young to be dealing with a father having Stage IV lung cancer.  Her father is involved with a clinical trial out of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Dallas TX, he and Lily's mom fly down as necessary for treatment and examinations.

Bottom line: THIS is what the donations to LUNGStrong (or Stand UP 2 Cancer) provide, research and hope to a cure, and if not a cure, a way to control the progress of lung cancer.

It was emotional and draining.  I was glad to meet Julie, she wasn't so much into meeting new people, David passed away in August, it is very soon for her.  She did mention that they met while running a marathon, that is a cool story! I remember him from my year 2 and 3 PMC rides.  Such energy and passion.  Encouraging me to latch on to a pace line and zip along!  Not much older than I, 55, with kids in high school.  Far far far too young to die from Lung Cancer, his was due to a genetic mutation.

I can't see you.
You can't see me.

Thursday - my real activity was walking a very energetic Gus on the long route.  He was happy to get out, I worry about him, possibly too much, but I don't want him to have a heart attack while we are out, but then again, he'd die during something he loved.  It is a tough call.  I think I'll take him on the ledge in Riverwood, he loves that.  If it's the last hike, I'll know he was happy scrambling up the ledge.  Being a dog guardian isn't exactly easy, as a few of you know.   Bottom line, them being happy and fulfilled is of the utmost importance.

Dave did remind me that we let Diesel do as he pleased when he was going through chemo and on on the Sotolo.  He got to be almost as crazy boxer boy as he wanted to be until he couldn't anymore.

The trauma of a 10-year-old having to color inside the lines per her aunt and grandfather.

Friday - My second run post shot series.  It took a little shove by a co-worker to get me out there.  I was having a major confidence crisis.  She assured me we ALL feel like that and it passes.  She was right.  It was a good run and it felt good.  It was chilly with some wicked heavy gusts of wind.  So bad I couldn't face the Eastern Point Beach loop, I turned into the wind and was at a standstill.  That swiped about 1/4 mile from my run. I really wasn't in the mood for wind and sea spray, not yet.

I found these sheer curtains, they have really impressed me SmartSheer keeps out the cold in the winter and the heat/UV in the summer.  I was skeptical, a sheer curtain.  Well, it does work there is a marked difference of the temperature on the other side of them!  We have old windows, as old as the house. This should help a little with the drafts.  We both figure the drafts keep the air fresh.

Treat time!

Saturday - One of those bitter cold I don't want to move days. Assembled the baby sweaters I have been knitting through the summer and washed them and found most of them homes!

Gus and I got out in the afternoon for an in town walk.  In the park, he skedaddled when a little two-legged creature came running towards 'pretty puppy'.  Gus was all 'let's get the hell outta here'.  The mother had to chase the kid, even Gus, when smelling something very interesting has better recall than that toddler focused on 'pretty puppy'.  Sorry to the parents out there, but you have to ASK if a dog wants to be petted by a child, I have no remorse for making that mother run across the park after her kid.  I'd put a yellow ribbon on his leash, however who of you knows what that means? 

Baby sweaters summer 2017

Sunday - Setting the Pace for Conservation 5K at Avondale Preserve - Rachel said she might go, I never followed up to see if she'd be there or not. I brought her beer, and a singlet just in case she was there.  Nope.  Nice catching up with folks in person versus online (FB, Strava, Instagram, eMail).  The race is super flat, so even crossing the road, you know that less than wee tiny hump in the middle, felt like a hill!  HA!  I started out in the back and actually had to reposition myself to move towards the back of the middle.  Interesting.  I had no idea how this was going to go and only had the goal of not falling at the start.  I managed that, so the rest of the race was a gimme, right?  It was interesting to see how much I slowed down around corners, wonder if that took some of the wind out of my sails or I was plain tired because I haven't been running!  I had perfectly executed positive splits for the 3 miles of the race and was passed in the last 1/10th of a mile, and couldn't even work harder, clearly, I 'left it all out on the course'.  YES even someone who runs a 31:29 5K can say that!  I have no idea what my official time or place are, frankly, I finished, but if you are curious the results are here.  Some great showing by the WTAC crew, for sure! 

I was surprised I found this!
My parents' Conservation efforts recognized by their alma mater Bradley University

Gus and I had a nice hike.  He scared up a flock of turkeys and I can't tell you who was more rattled the turkeys or Gus!  We also saw and talked to a mountain biker.  Hmm... I really need to get back on Barney.

We are bored.
Do something for us.

Mileage:

Feet: 23.5
Saddle:  15

Books:

Finished "The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett" by ...   cute book about teen angst and finally realizing how you are perceived by other people doesn't really matter as long as you are true to yourself.

Started "A Man Called Ove" by ...  OMG, he is a cranky old bastard, very set in his ways, and a few chapters in I can understand why. 

Knitting:

Sewed up the collection of baby sweaters, put buttons on them, threw them in the washer and the dryer and found homes for most of them!  One did have a small tragedy and has a hole in the back.  I don't remember having to change yarn or weaving anything in, I'm not sure what happened there.  I'll hold that one for a bit and wash it again and see if my repair is OK.  I couldn't tell you how many of these I have made, I enjoy it and it keeps my hands busy and I can pay attention to conversations or books or television or movies, plus it slows down the amount of beer I can consume.  All good things.  Oh yeah and the maintaining what little sanity I do have to a fairly constant level.

All in all a pretty good week.  I pushed it a bit with Monday's run, I kinda knew I was going to do that and I also knew I wouldn't have the opportunity to run again until Friday, it all worked out.

Weekly Recap: 10/30/2017 - 11/05/2017

Monday -  So we had the whole flip-flop rooms around on the first-floor thing going on Sunday, upsetting the dogs to no end.  They were upset all week.  Boxers like their schedule and their routine and everything to be a really similar day in and day out.  I think it’s a German thing.  Gus got a walk but still didn’t seem to quell the “what the hell are you two thinking” expression on his face.  Jax was beside himself and could hardly play with his ball.  This is serious.

I'm FREAKING out!!! -- Jax

Tuesday – Halloween, I got home just in time to sneak in the house with the Monday groceries, I THOUGHT I avoided the trick or treaters, they start early around here and I don’t get home until 6 p.m.  A few of the munchkins got on the porch and peeked in the door but the light was off, if they knocked no one heard them.  I didn’t have any candy, the only thing I have a surplus of is ‘fun size’ toothpaste, clearly, that was NOT going to cut it. 

With all the people out, no dog walks, people everywhere, wanting to pet the sweet/handsome/beautiful Gus.  He loves to see and watch people but not so much to let them touch him; everyone wants to pat a dog on its head.  Think about it, would you like to be towered over and have someone smack your head?  He’s good with a gentle ear scratch and he may lean into it but that’s about it.  

Ro and I had our last hill workout until she gets back from Martinique in December.  Since she was my last running partner before my three-week break she’ll be my first running partner on Monday.  Unless the weather is decent and I attempt the 5.5 mile Tarzan Brown race on Sunday.

ZZZZ  -- Gus

Wednesday – Last shot!  No exercise while the Euflexx does its thing.  Beer meet up with some gals, good time, too cold in the brewery for my achy joints.

The first day of HEAT!!

Thursday – First spin class since April 5th.  No standing in the pedals for me, so I had to figure out something to do for the standing and hovering parts.  Working on my climbing muscles seemed like a good idea.  I could crank up the tension sit a little back in the seat and focus.  I think I can make this work.  It was the spin class Ro teaches and she does 10 minutes of arm weights while we spin at a medium cadence.  Those always kill my arms, even with 3 lb. weights!!!  I’ll be happy to get back to this and get out on one of the bikes for the weekends.  

Gus was happy to get out for a walk and we went very far at an extremely peppy pace, good for him.  I was exhausted!

My turn!

Friday - With the temps nearing 70 this is perfect biking weather, unfortunately, work is heating up, performance review time, the only time of year people are productive and think I'm all for the "lack of planning on your part constitutes an emergency on my part" and jumping.  Um, no, however, if you've done me a solid, I'll do you one. 

Another Gus walk, in the daylight, that was nice.  I wanted to get some special release beers from Beer'd and they opened at 5 and I didn't want to go too late, so I took Gus to Stonington Borough for a walk so after the walk I could get the beer I wanted to get.  It all worked out well.  The only hurdle was going to be the train bridge.  It is a wire bridge over the railroad tracks, you can see right through.  How would Gus handle this?  He gave me a WTF look and tentatively took a step up after a bit of urging.  Once he determined, that yes he could see the ground but we were going up and he wasn't falling he carefully picked his way up the stairs.  We got over the tracks, this part is cement, clearly not a problem.  Then the down.  Oh, my... how was THIS going to go.  He was even more tentative, however, trusted me enough to walk down the stairs.  His preferred method of descending stairs is hopping, landing on his two front feet and only his back right foot keeping the left bent.  It's his thing, the three foot down the stair hop.  We will know when he is really having stair trouble when he uses all four feet.   He was happy with some new scenery and we went over the car bridge for the return trip to Beer'd.

Sunset from our walk in the Borough

Saturday - I agreed to meet Faith at 11 a.m. at Clyde's Cider Mill, Relive here.  The big elevation drop after restarting the Garmin at Clyde's was weird.  She was going to run there and back and I'd bike.  She wasn't ready for 30 miles on the bike.  OK.  I rode to Clyde's on the route I rode last week and happened upon Faith running.  It was chilly and slowing down to a running pace was really welcome so my body could warm up a bit.  We had some delicious hot cider with caramel and a cider donut.  She ran back to where she started and I biked back home.  It was really nice!



This was my first experience with bib shorts.  Oh wow.  I loved them.  No binding at the waist of a waistband, just not super easy to go to the bathroom....  hmmm...  

Both the boyz got a walk.  Jax has figured out the put on the harness process!  I was really impressed.  It goes something like this:

• He thinks he is going for a walk.  
• I get his harness he spins wildly and punches things.
• I say firmly "STOP"  he continues to spin about wildly and punch things. He is a boxer they punch things.
• I sing "collaborate and listen" and he slows down a bit.  
• He stops.  I hover over him attempting to get his feet in the right parts of the harness, left foot first.  
• He explodes in another fit of spinning and punching.  
• Repeat from STOP two more times and finally, he gets into the harness and we are off.  Tonight he didn't explode into the second round of spinning, he pulled up his left foot (the one I put in the harness hole first) and it took a few tries but we got it where it needed to be.  I was stunned by the surprise and more bracing myself to quickly back away as I don't want to get my head bonked by the spinning and punching.  He really is something.  I was pretty impressed and proud of him!

Caramel Cider and Cider Donuts

Sunday - I had a list, the list is all checked off.  A partial day and a full day of housewifery and I'm set for a while!

The dogs were not so happy with either the art project I had them involved in or the delayed dinner time.

This sucks, for ALL of us.

Reading:

Finished "The Penderwicks at Point Mouet" by Jeanne Birdsall, so cute, albeit a little predictable, however what a charming story.

Started:  "The Penderwicks in Spring " by Jeanne Birdsall, I am nearly done.  Oh, my heart broke for Batty, her dog died of a heart problem and then all the rest that piled on top of that.  As I am nearing the end it seems to be all working out for a very happy ending.  I'm glad I read Sheila's review and these piqued my interest.  It has been a lovely journey.

Up next: "A Man Called Ove" by  Fredrik Backman or "The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett" by Chelsea Sedoti. Depends on if I want to listen to the radio after the last Penderwick saga ends.

Knitting:

Nearly finished with the tan baby sweater.  I should start sewing up the arms and putting on buttons on the ones to be finished bag.  And finding homes for them!  I know a wee one that may need one for her outside adventures with her mum and dad...

Mileage:

Another low week.  Funny how my weight hasn't skyrocketed and I haven't been that careful with my diet...  weird.

Feet:  18
Saddle: 46

All in all, not a bad week, finally feel settled in the house we moved into 18 years ago.

Sincerely,
Beth, looking forward to running on Monday!!