Slow Recovery...

Still trying to recover from whatever illness I had over the holidays.  Still congested and coughing, but up on my feet and going to work.  Was amazingly tired the first couple days back, but am feeling better now - of course it is Friday and the weekend is only a few hours away. 

I have not yet starting running or even serious walking, but I am taking the dogs for walks at lunch time as weather permits.  I think we walked around a mile every day this week.  This should be multiplied by 3 since I want to go one way, HotRod wants to go another, and Anneke either goes a different way or refuses to move at all.  It's a good workout for legs AND arms I must say.  It's not much, but it is a start and I am feeling better every day. 

I also set my computer so it tells me to Drink More Water! every hour.  So far it is working.  Hydration is one of my real downfalls, so I will really have to work at it to keep it going.  HotRod saved me from eating something I shouldn't on Wednesday night.  I took a handfull of pink & white animal cookies and put them on the counter.  I walked away to do something else first after making sure they were far enough back on the counter.  I didn't have anything to worry about because Anneke is too short and HotRod has never stolen food before...well that's all over now.  He ate all but 1.  I was a little disappointed, but knew he did me a big favor. :0) 

I must start my workouts in earnest soon, since the Vancouver half marathon is May 2nd!  Stay tuned to see how I respond to having that little carrot out there in the near future!!

Hopes and Dreams for 2010...

I have thought about this for a while, and what I decided to wish for myself in 2010 is happiness with what I have in my life.  I have much that is wonderful, and yet I am often yearning for something more...more money, more energy, more "things".  But when I get more things it just leads to me wanting more. I just need to change my mindset and CHOOSE happiness.  Yeah..I know it is awfully easy to say, but if it was easy I would have already done it for myself years ago.  I stress and obscess over the most trivial of things, so when real stress comes along I have no way to cope.  Well I guess I do cope with food and beverage.  Not the best way to be happy with myself I gotta tell you.

I have laughed with good girl friends over the last couple of days trying to decide whether or not I would want a relationship if a good man came along. Good question and I thought a lot about it.  It would take a pretty strong character to break into my very "set in her ways" world.  At my 30 year High School Reunion I completely freaked out one of the guys I graduated with in 1978 (if you are reading this ~ Hi Pat!) who couldn't fathom the fact that I have never been married and have no children.  A fact that seems not un-natural to me, but was so outside his frame of reference as to be completely odd.  But the fact is I have a good life - just different than what they taught us was the norm when we were little girls.  And thankfully that norm has changed quite a bit in the last 30 years.  I was able come up with 4 things that would be good reasons to have a guy around...

• I would love to have someone to help drive on long trips
• I would love to have someone who can do the heavy lifting (especially at the end of those long trips!)
• It would be great to have someone to fix the toilet or other things when they break
• It would be great to have someone to exercise the dogs when I am tired or sick

Hmmmm...I guess I will have to keep trying to think of good reasons...If anyone has any additional thoughts on this question they are welcome to post them here on my blog.  :0)

I wasn't going to say anything about 2009 since the less said the better, but there are a couple of things.  I am so grateful for my Dad's recovery from his heart attack and quadruple bypass at the end of September.  He continues to grow stronger every day and I finally was able to visit with him today after missing Christmas.  I would like to say a final good-bye to my Gracie girl - I miss her very much.  A number of friends also lost their whippets in the last year - Shadow, Jarmir, Spot, Monkey, and Dylan.  You are all loved and missed.

I would like to wish a Happy New Year to one and all.  I hope your 2010 is full of love and passion.  I intend to continue with my running and healthy eating and most especially positive thinking.  This time next year I plan to be healthy, fit, and having the time of my life.  I turn 50 in about 6 weeks and it is going to be fantastic!

I Cry Uncle!

I was so full of joy at recapturing my youth and athleticism back in August, but the cold of December has dampened that joy quite handily.  Losing my dog, my Dad's heart attack & surgery, tripping over the new puppy and tearing cartilage in my knee all wove together to stop me in my tracks.  Now I have had the flu for 8 days and probably can't go home for Christmas.  I don't want to take the chance of  my Dad getting sick as he is still recovering.  Probably just as well since I can't resist my Mom's cooking & baking!!

I think the wise choice will be to let go of my goal of running the half marathon by my Birthday, and focusing on the Vancouver half May 2, 2010.  I hate to say it but I just won't be in good enough shape in two months to make it feasible.  DAMN!  But I am not abandoning my running or healthy eating goals...I have just taken a sizeable detour for the last 2 1/2 months.  While the chocolate and other goodies did taste really good...the weight gain is something I can't tolerate anymore.

On a positive note my puppy is getting bigger everyday and is a little doll.

I JUST GOTTA RANT!!!

Today was the Seattle Jingle Bell Run/Walk for the Arthritis Foundation.  I sent out a lot of donation requests knowing full well most folks don't have money this year and need it for themselves.  There are a few people, though, who wouldn't miss a few bucks.  My boss was complaining, LOUDLY, on Friday about his arthritic elbow.  Perfect!  I told him he should donate to my run on Sunday.  What did he say?  Oh sure, let me get you a check?  Nope.  He said..."HOW DOES THAT HELP ME?"  I said something about how he was standing there complaining about his arthritis and he said..."But what's in it for me?"  The owners of the company I work for have very nice homes, vacation homes, boats, and car collections - OTOH I live from paycheck paycheck.  Would $25 bucks have broken their wallets?  The one who responded to me probably had several $100 bills in his wallet at that very moment.  I guess that is how the rich stay rich, and I stay poor.  I guess I will never understand that way of thinking.  If someone is in need you give whatever you can and hope someone does the same for you down the line. 

OK.  That is the end of my rant.  Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakuh, or however you Celebrate.

Sunday is the Jingle Bell Run...

Although I will most likely end up walking.  The weather men can't make up their minds, so it will either be cold & dry, cold & snow, rain, or who knows what.  I'll just dress in layers and it will be all good.  I have been looking for a good elf or santa hat to wear, but haven't found the right thing yet.  I have plenty of bells.  Last year they had 12,000 people out there...can you imagine the noise of all those bells? 

I think we may have been above freezing today, but it sure didn't feel like it when I walked the dogs at lunch.  Check them out in the their festive red coats. Too bad they can't go with me. 

Jingle All The Way...

I signed myself up for another 5k today.  I will be doing the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis on December 13th in Seattle.  This one should be fun ~ they give you bells to wear on your shoes and encourage people to dress up in Christmasy costumes.  I think I will have to wear reindeer antlers at the very least ~ or a Santa hat.  I'm sure I'll figure something out.

Arthritis is something that has hit my family quite a lot.  My Mom's fingers are all gnarled and painful, and I have several joints that are becoming that way too ~ as does my sister.  I'm sure my hands will probably end up the same.  She used to play the piano so beautifully, and was always doing some sort of needlework or crafty thing.  That is no longer possible. 

So I will run for my Mom, and everyone else who is facing pain from arthritis.  This one isn't about time, it's about having a good time and raising money for a good cause!  Hopefully I can get a few people to jump on the donation bandwagon and I can raise some good money.

I run therefor I am...

I took an easy run on Sunday after 4 weeks of resting my knee, and it wasn't too bad.  I stayed in an easy pace and only ran a few 5 minute intervals, then a few shorter intervals, and then walked back home.  Knee didn't bother me ~ Yay!  I started back walking on the treadmill last night since I can't run my neighborhood in the dark - at least not safely.  It will take a while to get back to where I was, but not as long as I had thought.  I do need to get a new pair of running shoes though.  The pair I bought back in July just isn't the right fit for my skinny feet and narrow heel. 

Getting back on the straight and narrow eating path will not be easy either.  I let the stress of the last few months get to me and started eating my old higher fat and calorie diet.   I know what I have to do...just need to have the strength of mind to do it!!  Wish me luck.