Little things make me happy. Grand gestures are appreciated, but it doesn't take much to make me happy. Case in point...
1) Running 13 miles this weekend. I planned on doing 10, but felt so good I kept on going. 2 days later, I'm still feeling the pain in my quads, but it feels GREAT.
2) Acorn squash. Winter squash brings a feeling of cozyness and winter. I'm actually eating mine right now with a bit of butter and brown sugar.
3) Weighing in at Weight Watchers and being happy that I gained only .4 pounds (I went through a major once-a-month chocolate craving and I completely gave into it... 6 days in a row). I expected a 2 pound gain. a .4 gain makes me very happy. I'm still at an 18 pound weight loss and my pile of "can't fit clothes" is getting smaller by the week.
4) Not having school work to do after school. Ahh. It's nice to have my evening to myself.
5) Being flirted with by a really handsome man. It makes me feel like I'm 23 again. And it's even better when he tells me that his favorite book is "The Count of Monte Cristo." Dangling a good classic like that in front of an English teacher is like dangling crack in front of a drug addict.
6) Reading a good book. I'm enjoying "The Forest" by Edward Rutherford.
7) One of my students telling another teacher that if she ever has a problem, I'm the one adult on campus she can confide in.
8) Canned pumpkin. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the two cans I bought. I'm now looking up recipes. But again, winter squash...
9) My vanilla scented candles.
10) Walking into a clean apartment.
11) Surprise text messages and phone calls from old friends. A really old friend called me Saturday and it was great to reminisce with him.
12) Updating my iPod with more musical cast recordings.
That's it for now. I'm in a very cheery mood and I'm slightly hyper.
Cheers!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
No Clever Title Today
I put in another 6 miles today, bringing my weekly total to 12 so far. I hope to squeeze in 4-6 on Thursday (but I'll be on a time constraint, so let's hope I get any done) and then a long run of 10 miles on Saturday (around the Memorial Park/Allen Parkway area... something I haven't done in a long time).
I've been battling a nasty cold. I'm so exhausted right now, but I can't go to bed until my laundry is finished.
And my apartment needs cleaning. I don't have time to do that until Saturday.
Sigh.
I've been battling a nasty cold. I'm so exhausted right now, but I can't go to bed until my laundry is finished.
And my apartment needs cleaning. I don't have time to do that until Saturday.
Sigh.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Ask And Ye Shall Receive...
Woo-hoo! Cold(er) weather is here!
I'm inside all day. I don't even have a window, so usually the weather passes me by. Today, however, I knew that the temperature was dropping and my students confirmed it over and over: they kept claiming it was freezing outside! I believed them, forgetting that my "cold" and their "cold" are different.
So I took a step outside... and the weather is near perfect. Is it freezing? Not at all. But the wind was blowing and the temperature did drop. And by God, it's finally perfect to go for a 6 mile run at 4pm. So I did that.
Distance: 6 miles
Average pace: 13:32. Again, slowly dropping. Slowly.
The run was quite good, although the wind gusts almost knocked me over a couple of times. I felt alive, however, and really didn't want to stop at 6. I hope the weather is this good tomorrow so that I can get in 4.
After my run, I went to my Weight Watchers meeting. After two years of whining about my weight and not trying hard enough, I am finally back on the weight loss trail. Since moving to Clear Lake, I've dropped 18 pounds! Slowly, my cute clothes are fitting again. 7 more pound until they should all fit, 14 more pounds until I was at my lowest (5 years ago).
The weather is good, I'm running again, and I'm dropping pounds. Life is quite good right now.
Cheers!
I'm inside all day. I don't even have a window, so usually the weather passes me by. Today, however, I knew that the temperature was dropping and my students confirmed it over and over: they kept claiming it was freezing outside! I believed them, forgetting that my "cold" and their "cold" are different.
So I took a step outside... and the weather is near perfect. Is it freezing? Not at all. But the wind was blowing and the temperature did drop. And by God, it's finally perfect to go for a 6 mile run at 4pm. So I did that.
Distance: 6 miles
Average pace: 13:32. Again, slowly dropping. Slowly.
The run was quite good, although the wind gusts almost knocked me over a couple of times. I felt alive, however, and really didn't want to stop at 6. I hope the weather is this good tomorrow so that I can get in 4.
After my run, I went to my Weight Watchers meeting. After two years of whining about my weight and not trying hard enough, I am finally back on the weight loss trail. Since moving to Clear Lake, I've dropped 18 pounds! Slowly, my cute clothes are fitting again. 7 more pound until they should all fit, 14 more pounds until I was at my lowest (5 years ago).
The weather is good, I'm running again, and I'm dropping pounds. Life is quite good right now.
Cheers!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Yay! A Cool Front!
The temps are to be in the 70s after tomorrow! Yay!
Yesterday's run: 8 miles.
Average pace: 13:23. I'm slowly going down in my average pace during long runs. And I'm ok with "slow and steady."
So, here's my complaint of the day: it's almost 10am and my Sunday newspaper still hasn't found its way to my door. One of my favorite Sunday activities is to read the paper over breakfast, with my sliding glass doors open and the sun shining in. Today, I surfed the web while eating breakfast (and I waited until 30 minutes ago to eat). Soon I will be leaving for the day (I'm going to the movies, read my book at Starbucks and dinner with 3 transplanted college buddies), and if I don't have my newspaper, I'm going to have to buy one. And then I'll have to leave an unfriendly e-mail to the Chronicle, especially since Tuesday's paper didn't make it to my apartment, either.
But other than not having my weekly dose of the travel section, Zest, and coupons, I'm ok. I had no food in my cupboard this morning, so I went to the grocery story and completely restocked my kitchen. I haven't had a "restocking" in a while, so I spent a lot of money and I'm good now for a while. And I bought ingredients to do some real cooking, so I'm pleased.
I think I sprained a toe. I am a clutz; I walk into walls, I hit my head on my car when getting in, I manage to smack myself on the cheekbone when answering my phone. A few days ago, I ran into my couch and hurt my middle toe on my right foot. After grimacing and cursing for a few minutes, I continued my activity. 3-4 days later, my toe still hurts. It's not broken because I can walk ok and it's not swollen, but it's still hurts when I touch it.
Nothing else new with me. My life is still uneventful, and I'm looking for some adventure. Does anyone have any ideas?
Yesterday's run: 8 miles.
Average pace: 13:23. I'm slowly going down in my average pace during long runs. And I'm ok with "slow and steady."
So, here's my complaint of the day: it's almost 10am and my Sunday newspaper still hasn't found its way to my door. One of my favorite Sunday activities is to read the paper over breakfast, with my sliding glass doors open and the sun shining in. Today, I surfed the web while eating breakfast (and I waited until 30 minutes ago to eat). Soon I will be leaving for the day (I'm going to the movies, read my book at Starbucks and dinner with 3 transplanted college buddies), and if I don't have my newspaper, I'm going to have to buy one. And then I'll have to leave an unfriendly e-mail to the Chronicle, especially since Tuesday's paper didn't make it to my apartment, either.
But other than not having my weekly dose of the travel section, Zest, and coupons, I'm ok. I had no food in my cupboard this morning, so I went to the grocery story and completely restocked my kitchen. I haven't had a "restocking" in a while, so I spent a lot of money and I'm good now for a while. And I bought ingredients to do some real cooking, so I'm pleased.
I think I sprained a toe. I am a clutz; I walk into walls, I hit my head on my car when getting in, I manage to smack myself on the cheekbone when answering my phone. A few days ago, I ran into my couch and hurt my middle toe on my right foot. After grimacing and cursing for a few minutes, I continued my activity. 3-4 days later, my toe still hurts. It's not broken because I can walk ok and it's not swollen, but it's still hurts when I touch it.
Nothing else new with me. My life is still uneventful, and I'm looking for some adventure. Does anyone have any ideas?
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Why Is the Temperature Still High?
Seriously. It's still humid outside - and it's October! When is fall going to come?
Yesterday: No running. I went to the gym, planning on doing 45 minutes on the elliptical machine and 20 minutes weights. I lasted 30 minutes on the elliptical machine - my legs started hurting from the previous day's 10-miler. So I happily gave up and went home to rest.
Today: 1 hour of tae-bo, followed by 4 miles. 13:30 average pace, nice and slow, fully in recovery mode. My legs are ok, but my right knee still twinges, but in a dull way, and it goes away after a couple of miles.
Nothing else exceptional. I still live a boring life and I need some excitement.
Cheers!
Yesterday: No running. I went to the gym, planning on doing 45 minutes on the elliptical machine and 20 minutes weights. I lasted 30 minutes on the elliptical machine - my legs started hurting from the previous day's 10-miler. So I happily gave up and went home to rest.
Today: 1 hour of tae-bo, followed by 4 miles. 13:30 average pace, nice and slow, fully in recovery mode. My legs are ok, but my right knee still twinges, but in a dull way, and it goes away after a couple of miles.
Nothing else exceptional. I still live a boring life and I need some excitement.
Cheers!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Space City 10-Miler Postmortem
So, three weeks ago I had run my first run in almost 6 months. And it was a 4-miler (a little ambitious, I was told my some). That day I joined BAF to train with for the Chevron Houston Half. They were at 5-8 miles (depending on the group). I wasn't up there.
The next week, my first official Saturday with BAF (two weeks ago), I ran a 6 mile long run (my past daily run, mind you). It was rough. After 4 miles, I started griping. I was slow, tired, hot. I was envious because the Space City 10-miler was coming up and I didn't want to push up to 10 miles so quickly, and there was noone to partner with for the relay. So I realized I'd be running by myself that weekend.
Last week, my BAF long run was 8 miles. I was ok until mile 7. Then came the griping. But I finished the 8.
A few days ago, I went ahead and signed up for the 10-miler. I wanted to use it for a long run, even though someone smart in her training probably would've gone back down to 6 or 7 before going back up. But I'm not smart when it comes to training. Andy likes to lecture me on my rogue training. He thinks I'm not smart about it, and I agree, but I personally feel like a wuss if I do anything less than something difficult.
Should I have run the 10-miler today? No. After only 3 weeks of running, and after a 6-month hiatus, I should NOT have gone 10 miles today. And especially since I ran very hard Thursday evening and my legs were still sore from that run yesterday.
But did I? Hell yeah. My goal was to finish. A mini goal was to finish in less than 2:20. I've been running for three weeks; I couldn't expect more.
Finishing time: Around 2:19:38.
Mile 1: 11:52. That was a complete oops. I was not happy with myself. I wanted to start with a 13:20 and go from there.
Mile 2: 12:17
Mile 3: 12:52
Mile 4: 13:42
Mile 5: 13:13
Mile 6: 13:46
Mile 7: 14:16 (the ever present sun was getting to me)
Mile 8: 14:55 (I'm really hot by now and walking more... where's the freakin' shade?)
Mile 9: 16:53 (I completely gave up on running and I walked the entire mile)
Mile 10: 15:47. I shuffled half it, walked the other half.
Overall, I'm pleased with my first 6 miles. I honestly never intended to start out with a sub 12-minute mile. I don't think I've done a sub 12-minute mile in a year.
But I got my long run in, my body is getting better at 6+ mile runs, and I got to see a lot of Striders that I haven't seen since last year's Chevron marathon (Vic, Junebug, Steeeve, John, Jessica, Sarah, et al.)
This week's running schedule:
Tomorrow - NONE! No running for me, but I'm planning on 45 minutes on the elliptical machine and 25 minute of weight machines.
Tuesday - I hope 5 miles. I'm on a bit of a time constraint, and as it is I'll have to begin at 5. I have to be back at school by 7, so I should be able to knock out 5. Goal pace: 13 minute miles
Wednesday - I hope 5. Goal pace: 13 minute miles
Thursday - None. Gym day (I don't have time to run before Rodeo meeting, since it's still hot at 3:30pm)
Friday - None. Complete rest day.
Saturday - 8 miles. Tapering a bit. Goal pace: 13 minute miles.
Sunday - None. Gym day.
This will give me, if I'm able to do it, 18 miles, dropping 4 miles from last week. I'm busy this week with Rodeo stuff Thursday, Friday AND Saturday, so my running schedule is funky.
Again, I can't wait until the temperature drops so that I can run right after school.
Cheers!
The next week, my first official Saturday with BAF (two weeks ago), I ran a 6 mile long run (my past daily run, mind you). It was rough. After 4 miles, I started griping. I was slow, tired, hot. I was envious because the Space City 10-miler was coming up and I didn't want to push up to 10 miles so quickly, and there was noone to partner with for the relay. So I realized I'd be running by myself that weekend.
Last week, my BAF long run was 8 miles. I was ok until mile 7. Then came the griping. But I finished the 8.
A few days ago, I went ahead and signed up for the 10-miler. I wanted to use it for a long run, even though someone smart in her training probably would've gone back down to 6 or 7 before going back up. But I'm not smart when it comes to training. Andy likes to lecture me on my rogue training. He thinks I'm not smart about it, and I agree, but I personally feel like a wuss if I do anything less than something difficult.
Should I have run the 10-miler today? No. After only 3 weeks of running, and after a 6-month hiatus, I should NOT have gone 10 miles today. And especially since I ran very hard Thursday evening and my legs were still sore from that run yesterday.
But did I? Hell yeah. My goal was to finish. A mini goal was to finish in less than 2:20. I've been running for three weeks; I couldn't expect more.
Finishing time: Around 2:19:38.
Mile 1: 11:52. That was a complete oops. I was not happy with myself. I wanted to start with a 13:20 and go from there.
Mile 2: 12:17
Mile 3: 12:52
Mile 4: 13:42
Mile 5: 13:13
Mile 6: 13:46
Mile 7: 14:16 (the ever present sun was getting to me)
Mile 8: 14:55 (I'm really hot by now and walking more... where's the freakin' shade?)
Mile 9: 16:53 (I completely gave up on running and I walked the entire mile)
Mile 10: 15:47. I shuffled half it, walked the other half.
Overall, I'm pleased with my first 6 miles. I honestly never intended to start out with a sub 12-minute mile. I don't think I've done a sub 12-minute mile in a year.
But I got my long run in, my body is getting better at 6+ mile runs, and I got to see a lot of Striders that I haven't seen since last year's Chevron marathon (Vic, Junebug, Steeeve, John, Jessica, Sarah, et al.)
This week's running schedule:
Tomorrow - NONE! No running for me, but I'm planning on 45 minutes on the elliptical machine and 25 minute of weight machines.
Tuesday - I hope 5 miles. I'm on a bit of a time constraint, and as it is I'll have to begin at 5. I have to be back at school by 7, so I should be able to knock out 5. Goal pace: 13 minute miles
Wednesday - I hope 5. Goal pace: 13 minute miles
Thursday - None. Gym day (I don't have time to run before Rodeo meeting, since it's still hot at 3:30pm)
Friday - None. Complete rest day.
Saturday - 8 miles. Tapering a bit. Goal pace: 13 minute miles.
Sunday - None. Gym day.
This will give me, if I'm able to do it, 18 miles, dropping 4 miles from last week. I'm busy this week with Rodeo stuff Thursday, Friday AND Saturday, so my running schedule is funky.
Again, I can't wait until the temperature drops so that I can run right after school.
Cheers!
Friday, October 12, 2007
I'm On Fire!
First of all, I'm listening to Andy harass a telemarketer. It's quite amusing.
Anyway, I just got back from a fantastic run!! I was on fire!
Mile 1: 13:20. A bit better than what I've been doing. I'm happy.
Mile 2: 13:21. I'm still happy. Let's see what I can do...
Mile 3: 12:06. Hot damn! My legs woke up!
Mile 4: 12:12. Woo-hoo! I'm still going strong.
Mile 5: 12:23. Wow! 3 miles in a row and I'm still under 12:30.
Mile 6: 12:57. It was really dark and I slowed down to watch for cracks in the sidewalk.
Average pace: 12:39.
Yay! I'm getting back to normal!
And Andy is STILL harassing the telemarketer. I'm still amused.
Cheers!
Anyway, I just got back from a fantastic run!! I was on fire!
Mile 1: 13:20. A bit better than what I've been doing. I'm happy.
Mile 2: 13:21. I'm still happy. Let's see what I can do...
Mile 3: 12:06. Hot damn! My legs woke up!
Mile 4: 12:12. Woo-hoo! I'm still going strong.
Mile 5: 12:23. Wow! 3 miles in a row and I'm still under 12:30.
Mile 6: 12:57. It was really dark and I slowed down to watch for cracks in the sidewalk.
Average pace: 12:39.
Yay! I'm getting back to normal!
And Andy is STILL harassing the telemarketer. I'm still amused.
Cheers!
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Mouse at My House
There's a mouse at my house
what am I to do?
There's a mouse at my house
I hope there's not two.
The mouse at my house
appears to be quite sick.
But he's long and gray
with a body quite thick.
He twitched his nose
and frightened my dog,
who began to bark
there was no fog.
Wibble saw it all
and the mouse saw us, too
But when I made a move towards it,
away it flew
Into the storage area
where I keep all my boxes.
Oh, how I wish I had
a couple of foxes.
Who I'm sure would enjoy
a lovely rodent dinner.
But as for me,
I'm going to get thinner.
For the idea of a mouse at my house
makes me feel queasy.
I probably couldn't enjoy even a pizza,
all hot and cheesy.
Tomorrow I will tell
the manager of my plight,
who hopefully can cure
my dog of its fright.
For I am not going
into my storage area alone.
I can't even watch the mouse
without a call on the phone.
I called my mom and Yvonne,
and left a message for Andy.
God, I hope there's no mutant mice
in there getting randy.
For a nest of mutant mice
would not be much fun.
But I hope the men at my apartment
can get this problem good and done.
what am I to do?
There's a mouse at my house
I hope there's not two.
The mouse at my house
appears to be quite sick.
But he's long and gray
with a body quite thick.
He twitched his nose
and frightened my dog,
who began to bark
there was no fog.
Wibble saw it all
and the mouse saw us, too
But when I made a move towards it,
away it flew
Into the storage area
where I keep all my boxes.
Oh, how I wish I had
a couple of foxes.
Who I'm sure would enjoy
a lovely rodent dinner.
But as for me,
I'm going to get thinner.
For the idea of a mouse at my house
makes me feel queasy.
I probably couldn't enjoy even a pizza,
all hot and cheesy.
Tomorrow I will tell
the manager of my plight,
who hopefully can cure
my dog of its fright.
For I am not going
into my storage area alone.
I can't even watch the mouse
without a call on the phone.
I called my mom and Yvonne,
and left a message for Andy.
God, I hope there's no mutant mice
in there getting randy.
For a nest of mutant mice
would not be much fun.
But I hope the men at my apartment
can get this problem good and done.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
A Scarey Story
It was a dark and rainy morning. Thick humidity hung in the air. The streets were devoid of both light and dryness. A torrential downpour plagued the area. The dark street of Saturn was not a place where any sane person wanted to be.
And in fact, there were no sane people on the street of Saturn that morning. The dark, lightless, muddy, flooding street was peppered with the most insane people in Clear Lake....
(insert creepy music here)
Runners!
Today was a long run day. Half marathoners ran from 5-8 miles and full marathoners ran 14. I ran 8. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I went from zero miles (2 weeks ago) to 8! Woo-hoo! Unfortunately, we ran in a storm. And unfortunately no lightening flashed across the sky, so we ran, determined not to be wusses.
I feel fine. I knew that after mile 6, I might start hating myself (6 was where we went last week), but it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. My legs are indeed remembering the distance and they are starting to remember their speed - my first mile was a sub-13 mile, but then the rain really started coming down and I slowed so as not to slip in the muddy sidewalks. And boy, did I go through a lot of huge puddles. I haven't run in rain that bad since the Rodeo Run of 2006.
Cheers!
And in fact, there were no sane people on the street of Saturn that morning. The dark, lightless, muddy, flooding street was peppered with the most insane people in Clear Lake....
(insert creepy music here)
Runners!
Today was a long run day. Half marathoners ran from 5-8 miles and full marathoners ran 14. I ran 8. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I went from zero miles (2 weeks ago) to 8! Woo-hoo! Unfortunately, we ran in a storm. And unfortunately no lightening flashed across the sky, so we ran, determined not to be wusses.
I feel fine. I knew that after mile 6, I might start hating myself (6 was where we went last week), but it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. My legs are indeed remembering the distance and they are starting to remember their speed - my first mile was a sub-13 mile, but then the rain really started coming down and I slowed so as not to slip in the muddy sidewalks. And boy, did I go through a lot of huge puddles. I haven't run in rain that bad since the Rodeo Run of 2006.
Cheers!
Friday, October 05, 2007
I'm baaaaaaaaccccccckkkkk
I'm still here, although I've been using my myspace page more frequently (although that's not saying much... I just haven't been writing).
I am so extremely busy at my new school. It's not better than my other school; it's just different. Some things are better, some things are far worse. I'm definitely a stranger in a strange land over there.
But the most important aspect of my life is that I'm training for a race again. Two weeks ago, I literally ran into the Bay Area Fit people on their Saturday long run, and I joined the following Saturday.
My runs are slow. My first one back, which was just two weeks ago, was SO humbling. But in the two weeks that I've run, I've dropped my time already by a minute, so I'm doing 13:30 minute miles. I have faith that by the Houston Half, I'll be back down to 12 at least. I'd like to be back down to 11:30, but I'll be happy doing a consistent 12 at the Houston Half.
It feels so good to be running again. I was worried, but my knee is holding out ok (although I do feel the slight but unpainful twinges) and I haven't fallen! Yay!
Tomorrow is long run day. My goal is 8 miles.
Cheers!
I am so extremely busy at my new school. It's not better than my other school; it's just different. Some things are better, some things are far worse. I'm definitely a stranger in a strange land over there.
But the most important aspect of my life is that I'm training for a race again. Two weeks ago, I literally ran into the Bay Area Fit people on their Saturday long run, and I joined the following Saturday.
My runs are slow. My first one back, which was just two weeks ago, was SO humbling. But in the two weeks that I've run, I've dropped my time already by a minute, so I'm doing 13:30 minute miles. I have faith that by the Houston Half, I'll be back down to 12 at least. I'd like to be back down to 11:30, but I'll be happy doing a consistent 12 at the Houston Half.
It feels so good to be running again. I was worried, but my knee is holding out ok (although I do feel the slight but unpainful twinges) and I haven't fallen! Yay!
Tomorrow is long run day. My goal is 8 miles.
Cheers!
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