Weekly Recap: 12/4/2017 - 12/10/2017

Monday -  A running day.  I was feeling really good and positive and with the encouraging note from Connie I set out the usual way on the work loop, a right out of the gate.  I am faced with a slight incline no matter which way I turn and I usually go right, then the fast runners don’t have to pass me.  Doing my best to not make them uncomfortable for flying by me and my conservative pace, always accommodating!  Everything felt really good and I decided I’d try all three points.  Jupiter was up first and the one I like the least feels like I’m crawling out of a hole is near as I can figure why I don’t like it so much.  That felt fine.  It is sad to not see the elderly lady and her corgi anymore.   I always enjoyed seeing them, made it easier to face Jupiter Point.   I haven’t seen the crazy boxer in years, but he was the first fun thing to look forward to on this part of the route.   Avery Point is better in this direction because of the chilly SE wind off the water, plus it feels like wee tiny push.  Avery Point is short and similar,  it is a nice way to tack on 0.40 of a mile to a run.   When the space watch hit 5.2 I saved the run and walked the remaining ¾ mile back to campus.  Partially because I was tired and partly because while I wasn’t feeling it at the moment, the likely hood of feeling the run later in the day would increase if I kept on. 

I don't have many pictures from this week, so here are some oldies. 
Jax loved this game.  

 

 I went to take Gus on a short walk and once he realized my plan he was having nothing of it and stopped, stood behind me, and waited with his “Really?” look on his face.  This means he wants to go a different direction and I get to figure out which direction that is.  He wanted to cross the street.  I eventually steered him, albeit unwillingly, back toward town and the park, we did a loop in the park and went home for 1.5 miles.  He had a long walk on Sunday and usually, he stops and turns us around a ½ mile into the walk the day after a long walk.  I can’t figure him out.  Definitely has it in his mind what he wants to do, communicating that, not so easy for him.

Georgia Peanuts - one of our fosters
She was a sweetie.

Tuesday – Not a running day, circuit class wasn’t going to happen with meetings, spin later on in the day would be fine.  It was also going to rain, meaning I’m not taking anyone out for a walk in the rain, nope, no, definitely not.  The class was good.  I didn’t feel as exhausted as I did last week.  Perhaps because this wasn’t a double workout day?

Why is there a tree in the house?

Wednesday – A running day.  The day Ro and I do the hill loop.  She and Mark are in Martinique for about 6 weeks, and I haven’t gone on the route since the week she left, either I wasn’t feeling up to the route or I had something else going on.  I headed out that way and ran most of the loop, I knew I couldn’t maintain our power walk pace solo.  I did walk a couple of the hills from the ½ way point.  Considering I hadn’t done the loop in a month and having let my endurance lag, I am happy with what I accomplished.

Gizmo leading the pack on a run!

Gus took me on a long walk, and while we were gone the Imaginary Husband pulled the Christmas decorations out of the attic, set up the tree, and put on the lights and waited for us to get home so the hoomans could decorate the tree.  It was 9 p.m. before I finally got to sit down and had a few things I had to get done.  I was wired going to bed, meanwhile, I hoped the sound of two softly snoring boxer boyz would lull me to sleep.  

Sage, mid-flight.  She was a bruiser!

Thursday – Not a running day.  Another crazy meeting day so no strength class, my knees were aching, Vitamin I fixed that.  I didn’t need to torture them with the jumping parts of the warm up.  I took a spin class for some exercise and a short Gus walk in the evening. 

Diesel and Gizmo

Friday - A running day, I wasn't feeling it, so I didn't.  Stopped at the store because we actually needed milk, and with the pending snow, cracker soup and sammiches (tomato soup and grilled cheese) would be perfect for dinner, so I picked up bread (not something we have regularly).  The grocery store was insane, as was traffic.  Tis the season, nothing to do but smile at the people having meltdowns, some were nuclear and amble my way home.   I napped when I got home, probably about 30 minutes, but it was enough to give me a boost of energy for a nice long Gus walk after dinner.  

Always a favorite of Jax and Gus

Saturday - Pending snow set my mind at accomplishing little but catching up on recorded TV, Vikings, Good Behavior, and Blind Spot (the only violence I enjoy) and knitting on the Wild Boy sweater.  

Sage, waiting to attack.

Sunday - Newport Christmas 10K.  Hard to believe it this day and age a race is still allowed to be called Christmas anything, but as people insist it isn't a war on Christmas it's a war on close-mindedness.  Whatever.  Seems to me from the dawn of time what you do or don't believe is what causes war, hate, and discontent.  Can't we all get along, and accept that your neighbor doesn't have to believe in your diety to be a good person?  

Gus was late but at least you can see his face.

Race Recap:  My goal was 1:15.  I crossed the finish at 1:13.  I really didn't expect that to put me squarely in the actual back of the pack, with the police car breathing down my back.  I was happy at mile 5ish when they finally pulled away to direct traffic.  I was a little relieved to see someone in the car.  Another runner who bailed...  believe me the thought of bailing was running through my mind.  I looked at the results and was a little mortified to see my name as DFL (Dead Fucking Last), kinda made me sad to see how far I've fallen from my middle of the pack status.   Dave, the Imaginary Husband, reminded me I hadn't run that distance in several months and was barely trained for a 5K, let alone a 10K.  It was August the last time I ran that far.  It is what it is, and as much as it bothers me, it is what it is.  I enjoy biking so much more and have come so far with my bike handling skills, I do have something to be proud of.  Full results here.  


Mileage:

Feet:  28.8
Saddle: 30  

Books:

"My Cousin Rachel" by Daphne du Maurier is getting better, the mystery is starting to open up.  Phillip, for being 24 is rather a nieve man which makes me chuckle at times.  His Cousin Rachel is a character, she is hard for me to trust, however, Phillip is very enchanted with her and can't for the life of him figure out why!

I started reading "Long Journey Home: A Young Girl's Memoir of Surviving the Holocaust" by Lucy Lipiner.  I mainly listen to books, however, with a small change in my routine I have about 45 minutes of slack time and decided I'd use that to relax and read.  This is an interesting book.  I love reading about the horrors of the Holocaust, the inspiration of people surviving through such horrible events is really what draws me to this time period.  Lucy discusses leaving Poland just days before the occupation of the Nazis, he father was very insistent the family leave, and stay away.  Lucy is a child of 6 when her family and extended family fled their home.  Seeing this through a child's eyes is very different than seeing it through an adult's eyes.  

Knitting:

Dave yelled downstairs "When did we get a walk-in closet in the guest room?"  I said, "What are you talking about?" He was commenting on my yarn stash spread out on the bed, and the half-full closet, and how could I possibly have pulled all THAT out of the closet.  I explained that yarn is very squishy.  He was amazed at how much I had managed to squirrel away in the small closet.  I have a very large project ahead of me deciding what stays and what goes.  Any suggestions on local elderly care facilities or centers I can donate the yarn too?  

Meanwhile, I am nearly finished with a sweater for a baby born this month, and have a couple more specific recipients for sweaters!  And here I gave all of the stash away.  I really did want them out of the house.  I'm happy to continue on with my favorite pattern and merrily knit away.

Sincerely,
Beth, looking forward to getting back on the mountain bike next weekend, I missed riding Barney this weekend.

Weekly Recap: 11/27/2017 - 12/03/2017

It sucks when your body betrays you. Kind of my theme for the week.  Sucks to have a goal of running 5 miles in one run to be a stretch goal.  It is what it is and I'll figure it out.

Monday - 5K around the button hook and back.  

Gus was up for a short walk.  Goofy boy.

Hey, Snoopy what's got you so deflated?

Tuesday - double day, weight/circuit class for lunch and a Spin class after work.  I was wiped out.  Made pumpkin/curry/coconut milk soup for dinner, soup, something more to love about cooler weather!

Jax has the right idea, curl up with the pillows and catch some ZZZZZZZs

Wednesday - Run, a whole 4 miles, I made it around two of the points.  Yeah me!  Gus got a walk, nearly 3 miles and he was ecstatic with that. I should be just as ecstatic with 4 miles. I'll get there, it will take time.  No, no I won't, but I'll do my best to fake it.

Thursday - Circuit class no spin.  I had a hair appointment and Maggie was so excited as finally, she got to blow out my hair straight.  The Imaginary Husband was quite surprised, it's been 15 or so years since I've gotten my hair blown out.  I have a selfie, it's not great but I'll post it anyhow.  Took both the boyz out for a walk, this is miserable for all three of us, but at least they got out so they will let me sleep, and really that was all I cared about.

Friday - Got in little over 4-mile run, felt pretty ok.  Ran to Jupiter Point, the point I like the least.  At least I got all three points done in a week, maybe next week I'll get all three points done in one run!!  Here's hoping!!  Gus and I had a long walk after the sunset and before dinner, I was surprised!  We were downtown when the 6 p.m. chimes rang so we headed home, and the dogs had dinner at close to dog dinner time.  I'm the stickler, dog dinner time is 6:30, Dave feeds them earlier if they are pestering him and pleads with me to feed them earlier when I am home and ignoring them...  

Saturday -  Lots of errands to run and it was going to be warmer in the afternoon.  Perfect for a road bike ride,  a short one, 15 miles.  I inspected my back tire and found some cuts in the tire and patched them put the tube back in and pumped it up and was on my way with my new comfy cozy riding pants, the best $100 I've ever spent!  I did need my windbreaker I wore my vest, my hands were warm in the gloves so it was OK to have a bit of a chill on my arms.  Just about 8 miles in a spectacular blow out.  The guy walking around the corner said: "You ok?" I said, "Yeah, pretty spectacular sounding, huh?"  He said, "I thought someone was power washing their house."  I got the new tube checked to make sure I didn't pinch the new tube in the bead and pumped it up.  Put the tools back in the saddle bag and PSSSSSTTTT.  Holy crap...   I checked my phone to see what time it was.  Dave was due home by 3 p.m. and it was 2:30.  I texted, "Home yet?  I'm having a very bad tube day.  In Watch Hill.  Patching the first blow out.  But I'd love to be rescued."  He called and said he was just in the next town over asked exactly where I was, I told him and said I'd walk the bike the way he was coming, it was warmer than sitting on the curb!   That worked out well.  Clearly, I am doing something wrong.  Now to figure it out.  Or maybe it was the small cuts in the tire. I will get a new tire.  Get Gatorskins Sir George says, they are the best Sir George says,  you'll never get a flat Sir George says, well now I'm on my second set in the course of 6 months. Michelin it will be, they seem to serve Dave and Jeff well...  gahhhhhhhhh  

Bill and Dace dropped by when we were gone and left the dogs an Advent Calendar.
There are treats in each of the days.  They are NOT amused!
Someday we may paint the door to match the trim... someday.

Sunday - Dave, the Imaginary Husband, and bike mechanic, fixed up the tubeless back tire in Barney (the mountain bike), he held air all night and I even had to let some out before I went for a ride in Barn Island in the morning.  Barn Island is in CT and there is no hunting on Sunday in CT.  I'm good with that, shotgun season opened on Saturday so it is going to take a while for the hunters to sort themselves out.

I got lost and misdirected, and had a grand time.  I wanted to go out for an hour and I was riding for about an hour, so goal met.  I think I can load the route I want to take into the Garmin and it may direct me on the trails, if not, I may feel a bit more secure about where I am going.  The trails aren't marked and aren't well used so they are a bit hard to follow.  

Gus was happy to take me on a long walk, I am beginning to think he is walking me and I'm not walking him.  I'm only making sure he doesn't get hit by cars as he goes from garbage can to garbage can crossing streets willy-nilly.

Jax was not at all cooperative getting his picture taken with a favorite beer.

I tried a selfie and he was having none of that, Dave got a HUGE laugh out of that spectacle, he said it was good I hadn't taken the top off the beer or that would be alcohol abuse!  Ha ha ha. 

And so ends the week.

Mileage:

Feet: 24
Saddle:  29

Not spectacular, I'll take it.  I feel good at the end of the week and that counts for something!!

Books:

Finished:  "The Girl From the Train" by Irma Joubert.  I'm really not sure how I feel about this book, if I liked it or not.  The story was good, a young girl and her sister jumping off a train headed to Auschwitz.  The train was unscheduled and the Polish resistance troops had bombs set to blow up the bridge the German troop train was going to cross.  The train containing Gretl's mother and grandmother reached the bridge first.  It was good till it wasn't, I could see how the story was going to unfold for Gretl.  I'm one of those people who forgot the ship sank in the Titanic, that is how involved in a story I get.  Dave is one of those people who tries to figure out the ending and when it is obvious he is bored and annoyed.  He still went with me to see Titanic and chuckled when I was surprised the boat sank.   So for me to figure out an ending, the story didn't wrap me up enough.

Started:  "My Cousin Rachel" by Daphne du Maurier.  I MAY have to start this one over.  I loved "Rebecca" in all the formats I could consume it.  I think this is going to unfold similarly, but I'm not sure.  

Knitting:

Made some progress on a sweater.  Vikings started again for the season so that is what I'm watching and knitting.  It was nice to get back to feeling the yarn and the needles in my fingers.

Sincerely,
Beth, chugging along, merrily!

Weekly Recap: 11/20/2017 - 11/26/2017

Monday - There was a short dog walk so Gus would let me sleep through the night. Otherwise, I don't want to talk about it.

These are the things that go on in our house.  We have a circle, perfect for 5-year-olds to ride bikes around, or 51-year-olds... not really much of a difference?

Tuesday - Spin class!  It is a bit boring not being able to stand on the pedals, however, a good time to work on my climbing muscles.  Gus and I had a nice walk after I got home.

I want the chair, make Jax get out of the chair.

Wednesday - The sun was supposed to be out at 3, so I was going to run then.  It didn't come out but it was nice for a dog walks, they each had their own walk.

Dave, the Imaginary Husband, volunteered to help out with Thanksgiving dinner at his parents, house.  And when he volunteers, he does, he isn't voluntolding me, he is volunteering himself.  We had a small crisis with a roasting pan after I got back from a short Jax walk and a long Gus walk.  Tom the Turkey wouldn't fit into the pan and how the hell was he supposed to fold his wings behind his back?  Were they supposed to go back like he was arresting the turkey or like the turkey was sitting in an office chair with his hands behind his head?  Nothing was really working.  Then there was the dilemma of no turkey baster or string....  I offered several times to make a trip to, ugh, Wal-Mart, TJMaxx or Home Goods MAY have what we are looking for but at 9:40 p.m. we had a limited amount of time.  Wally World was most likely to have what we needed.  They did!  We only need a few inches bigger pan, and I found it!  The baster and string were procured at Stop and Shop and I was on my way home.  Leaving Stop and Shop at 9:59 p.m. just as they were closing!  Pshew.

Tom was all situated and bound in his vessel, the wings go behind like he's in a desk chair, not the back of a police car (in case you were wondering), he was nestled quietly in the fridge with the sides ready for a 6 a.m. wake up call!  Well done, Dave, the Imaginary Husband!  He asked if I'd dry if he washed the 1/2 a gajillion pots, pans, bowls, and other things he used.  Sure, anything to get the kitchen put back together.

Thursday - Up and at 'em at 6 a.m. to get Tom layered in some cheesecloth and in the spa for his day of tanning.  Dave asked me to hold off until after the 10 a.m. basting to leave the house.  He was going on a Turkey Burner Ride.  Oh goodie, I didn't have to leave till a civilized hour!  Tom looked all tanned and crispy with a little cheesecloth all browned from the butter and wine basting sauce.  Very cute!  I was able to use the time to futz around with the tubeless back tire on Barney.  After several inflations and rapid spinnings FINALLY the tire held air!  I was pretty lucky and it was 45 minutes of riding before the tire started going flat and I had to re-inflate to get back to the car.  I could see where the 'stuff' was leaking from the tire during the multiple inflations and spins.  I'll call that a win and Dave said he'd put in a new application that probably the last application leaked out over the summer and with the re-inflation and spinning.  Or there was a problem with the binding.

I had such a lovely ride.  I was so happy to be in the woods, and have warm feet, and be on the bike, and be muddy, and have clear skies, and sun, and the best of many worlds for me.  I could feel that smile I get when I bike emerging on my face.  One of my co-workers sees me out on the road from time to time and says I look very happy on my bike.  He also thinks this is very weird, and wonders if there is vodka in my water bottle.  HA HA!!

Ahhhh

Jax came with to MA and Gus stayed home.  Gus isn't good in the car, he hates it.  He was very happy to have us home and when I went to bed he curled up next to me and put his head on my shoulder.  Not something he normally does.  I would have preferred to leave both of them home so they could keep each other company.  Somethings aren't worth fighting over, it's pointless.

Friday - Faith and I were able to run, and we went to Champlin Glacier Park.  You can get a surprising amount of elevation in the teeny nature preserve.  I managed 3 miles before I really needed to throw in the towel.  It had been nearly two weeks since I ran, and of course, Thanksgiving dinner was sitting heavy in my gut.    It was a fun run, nothing to be disappointed in, then we went to a packy and got a mix-a-six of beers I thought she and her husband would enjoy.  I picked up a few things too...

Saturday - The weather was supposed to be perfect for a road ride, low 50's, sunny, barely any wind.  I was so excited to be able and get out for at least an hour of riding.  I stretched it into nearly 2 and then topped it off with a spectacular blow out less than a mile from home.  I seriously have something wrong with my back tire.  Either I'm putting in the tube wrong or there is something wrong with the tire.  Taking the whole thing apart and carefully going through it with a bright light and glasses could unearth any defects in the tire or the rim.  Or I'm just a buffon who can't put in a tube without it getting caught in the bead on the tire.



Gus and I went out for a hike.  This was the day I was going to let him take the inner trails of Riverwood Preserve, they are hilly and after learning a friend's parents lost their boxer boy to a heart attack on Thanksgiving Day I wasn't going to deny Gus to do something he loves, while it terrifies the hell out of me when he recklessly scrambles up the ledge and then wanders to the edge, he clearly enjoys it based on the look in his eye and his nub wiggles.  We heard gunshots pretty quick into our hike and Gus wasn't having any of that and took the quickest exit out of the preserve.  Fortunately, he had a really good scramble up a ledge, and one where he was sort of stuck (which happens when you take the steepest route) and I had to give him a little push to get him to the top.  A reminder we should embrace each day and do something that makes us happy.

Sunday -  The Imaginary Husband had a 30-mile mountain bike ride between the Woody Hill Preserve and Burlingame on his schedule.  I planned on going to Barn Island and exploring more.  My back tire on Barney wasn't holding air well and he was going to take a look at it, probably needs more of the 'stuff' as it is tubeless.  I did grab a tube and put that in my pack, just in case....  what I forgot, and found out a mile away from the car, when the tire wouldn't hold air, were tire irons.   Whoops.  I walked the bike back to the car.  All good experiences!

I'm nearly capable enough to ride right through these old stone walls.

Mileage:

Feet: 17
Saddle: 49

Nothing too impressive.  I think I'm ready to get back to more running miles.  It has been nice having knees that don't feel like hell, however, it hasn't been nice not having that freeing feeling I get from running. 

Books:

"The Girl From The Train" by Irma Joubert, it is an interesting story about a young girl, 6, who jumped from a train heading to Auschwitz.  Her Oma and Aunt were on the train, they did not make it off, only she and her older sister, who became very ill and died.  She was adopted by a family in South Africa when she was 12.  I'm not sure it is or isn't a great book or if I just haven't had enough time to think about it, it's not really grabbing me.

Knitting:

Found homes for all but two of the sweaters, and I'm not too keen on giving either of them away due to size issues with one and a small defect in the other.   Finished another sweater and started one.  From the count, in my knitting notebook, I am starting sweater #39 since I started keeping track a couple years ago.  

I'm not quite ready to sort (determine what to keep with a specific project and what to give away) the yarn stash I've amassed over the years, there is more yarn than I can knit, and getting slapped in the face finding a HUGE bag of yarn hiding behind a chair in the guest room was a little overwhelming.  Even if I lived to 100, I would never get through all this yarn.  

I am ignoring the bags and bags of fabric, at the moment.  That may just get shipped to my Aunt in IL, she will put it to good use.  Quilting is her obsession.  

Sincerely,
Beth, remember, enjoy every single day.