we bleed green!

What do you do when you have had a real bad week? And the Roughriders are in the Grey Cup on Sunday? Well, of course, you grab your rider gear, and some alcohol, an oreo cheeze cake, and some great friends and spend the night drinking and eating and talking and laughing!!!

GO RIDERS!!!! Game on Sunday. Rumour has it the stadium in Calgary will be a sea of green given so many of us Saskatchewanites have moved there over the years. Rider Pride is worldwide!!!

PS: That is the only Rider shirt I own....I have to wear it for three days straight!! ewwwwy...

a real shitty day

The phone rang last night, late, and you know when the phone rings late at night it is never good news. The owner of the business next door to Shaun says come quick there is a fire. Shaun races across town and the entire building is up in flames. Three businesses...gone...ours included.
Holy Shit.
I have been on the verge of tears all day. I am at work but going through the motions. This is not going to be good times for us. Of course, little is known right now and the tricky part is not to speculate and over think what is going to happen. We have insurance, we will have to tough this out and take this all one step at a time. We have had calls from all over the city offering up help and support.
Thank-you!
Thank-you!
THANK YOU!!!!
The saving grace is that the way the fire burned, and the shop was in the end space, most of the biggest equipment was unharmed. The firefighters apparently did "damage control"...whatever that means...I think it had something to do with the explosive gasses and welding tanks ...but the entire building around the shop is destroyed.
And Shaun got his ski-doo out.
You know...priorities!!!

domesticated...sort of

Mark the calendar chicks and dudes...this is a pic of me sewing by hand Matthew's name bar on his hockey jersey. And yes...I own a sewing kit with all the shit in it necessary to do minor (and I repeat...minor) repair work. I could not think of anyone I knew that owned a sewing machine I could borrow and the tailor I use wanted a ridculous amount of money to sew name bars on the back of hockey jerseys so here I am doing it myself!! The things you never think you will see yourself doing....Shaun thought it was hilarious and took the picture...thanks hon!!

Sunday swim today. Was an okay swim. Some left early...ahem...not mentioning names here...but we did a bunch of treading water and kicking with our legs straight down and hands up in the air...yikes....those were tough!! So the meters weren't that many but with those kicks and a 700 meter straight pull at the end, my body knows I swam today. Off to the hockey rink for the afternoon so will likely miss the Rider football game. If we win, we go to the Grey Cup...for our american friends, Canada's version of the Super Bowl but nothing real "super" about it...we just have to have our own things up here!! And the fans in this province are crazy about our football team...it really is fun to see so many businesses and cars and people all decorated in green in support.

GO RIDERS!!!!

a swim, a bike, a run and another swim

Wednesday morning brought a really good swim. I am loving the coach at our Wed am swims. He is fun and makes the workouts interesting and eggs me on to work harder. He lets me know he is watching and calls my splits and calls me out if I let up at all!! I didn't think I would like that type of coaching as I had SO MUCH of it when I was at the pool as a kid but he really does make it fun and he makes me laugh so all is good at the pool on Wed mornings!!

Thursday was supposed to be a bike day but I got up and looked the laundry and the messy house and decided to spend an hour or so tidying up and getting us organized.

Friday I got that bike ride done. I don't know about these trainer rides...I find it really hard to get my HR up for those intervals!! I feel like I am working hard but when I look at the numbers, they are telling me I am not working so hard...I haven't been on my bike much so maybe I just need to get there more and I will find my way again...?

Today was a run. And pretty good run it was. The workout was 4x8 minutes at a tiny bit faster than my "run all day pace". But I have the BM qualifying pace burned into my brain, and I want to practice that pace till I can run it for 3 hours and 45 minutes...so I held it pretty good for the 8 minute intervals. Holy crap...my legs were tired after the 4th one!! But I will get there. Coach Justin sent me a game plan on how we are going to get there...and I am getting there come hell or high water...

Sunday brings a swim. I might get up and do the bike ride I missed earlier in the week before the swim but we shall see what the morning brings. We have a super busy weekend...errands, hockey and family stuff. Go...GO...GO!!!!!!!

another test...another belt!!

He is into the solid colors now. In the class with the "big kids". And competes...but only if he wants to (I think Jenna is the only person that relates to that comment...) YAY Matthew!! We are so proud of you and your success with your passion...TKD!!!

Back to me...Did a kick ass run on Saturday. Mistakenly ate before I went out and felt like I was going to barf for most of it. Wanted to see how long I could hold the BM qualifying pace...45 minutes...so I only have 3 hours to go!! Holy Shit. This will be a big, big challenge!!

Swam on Sunday. Was a really good swim. Did some longer stuff which is right up my alley. Although I must say, some of those guys are a bit out of shape, which surprises me. Coach Justin always says you want to BUILD on your fitness. Try not to loose any. Some of them were huffin and puffin after just a few hundred meters. (I was kind of too...but wasn't letting on...)

Missed my bike ride today. Ack. I need to have a chat with JP as Tuesdays are just too hard to get a workout in, have a weekly early morning meeting on Tuesdays and unless I am up at 4:30am...these are just not going to happen.

That's it...looking forward to a swim tomorrow...I ordered a couple of new suits from splish...the ARGH! suit because who does not want skulls on their bathing suit and the SUPERSTAR suit because, well, why not be a bit cocky at the pool!!!!...super cool!!

should I? Or shouldn't I?

Help Blogger world. I know I can count on you all to be honest with me.

An opportunity has dropped on my lap and I don't know what to do with it.

Here's the deal:

Who holds a mutual funds license through Manulife Securities?

Me.

Who owns John Hancock Insurance down in the US?

Manulife Financial. (Or what I affectionately call "The Mother Ship")

Who is a major sponsor of the BOSTON MARATHON?

John Hancock.

Who is sponsoring some of their advisors/avid runners and giving a free ride to the BOSTON MARATHON next April?

Manulife Financial.

Who was called today to ask if I would like to take part?

Me.

OMG!!!! What the HELL!!! I don't qualify to run it, I just GO AND RUN IT!!!

Is this bad?

I think I should try to qualify...don't you? There are qualifying times for A REASON! So not every tom, dick and whoever goes to run. The race deserves that respect. Does it not? But would I EVER qualify for this race? Let's be totally honest and realistic...this may be a once in a lifetime chance to run the BOSTON MARATHON!!!! But then how many weekend golfers out there would love to play in the Masters....all of them? And they don't all do it, the game is left for those who QUALIFY and have the TALENT and the DEDICATION and the HARD WORK behind them to be there. I don't think I could face my running buddies or tri-buddies if I just got there based on my day job...but then, when would I ever be able to go? And oddly this whole experience so far has kind of put a fire in my belly to run my ASS OFF and qualify the old fashioned way.

HELP!!!!

Jingle Bell Fun Run

I ran the 10km version of the JB Run today. It was not a very good run...time-wise...but a very good run learning-my-body-wise. There weren't as many people as I thought there would be out today and I only registered this morning at the event. At around the 6km mark, I was wishing I had gone to my Sunday swim instead, but we will get to that...let's start at the beginning.

Had an amazing sleep. Like a friggin ROCK to 8:30am...how many times does this happen? Never!! I woke up and it was light out and I freaked out thinking I had missed the run!! And my kids weren't even up yet...wtf?? They were up at 6:30am yesterday...that would be SATURDAY morning...argh!! Speaking of Saturday, here was my nutrition plan before the 10km run today (possibly had something to do with how I ran..? You tell me.) We had tickets to the movie "A Christmas Carol" that Mackenzie Financial sent us. The movie was at 10 in the morning. I had coffee, popcorn and an ice tea for breakies. Then I did not eat aaaaallll day until the hockey game (Matthew's team lost 7-1 vs a team of girls...he was in goal and stopped about 50 shots...these little girls could play hockey!!! They schooled our boys!! secretly I loved it...) where Luke and I shared rink fries and a hot dog....then I had my 95 year old grandmother over for supper and we ordered Chinese Food...hmmmmm....no wonder my legs and body said "gimme a break!" at the run today!! I REALLY have to get a handle on my nutrition....I am pretty good during the week as we are on a schedule and I plan the week's meals but we tend to fall apart on the weekends. AND I need to get better organized around activities etc with packing snacks and water so we are not living on rink food....and we wonder why there is a problem with weight in this country....just come to a hockey rink and see for your self what the parents are eating and what they are putting in their kids' bellies...YAK!!

Back to the run. I felt really good before the run. Did some warm up stuff and chatted with a few people I knew...was fun! This was not a timed event so I did take my Garmin just to keep me honest.

My goal was to see how far I could hold 5:00 per kms.

I wasn't really concerned with the finish time because I knew I was going to blow up somewhere...but hopefully well after the 5km mark...and hopefully closer to the 10km mark...well, gang, I lasted 7km!!!! This is some sort of miracle for me!!! I glanced at Gary Garmin around the 4km mark and he yelled at me "Average pace 4:55 min per km!!!" Holy crap...and I was feeling pretty good..not great, but pretty good. Then right after the 5km turn around, we had to run back up this steady climb and I was holding it, holding it and took a very quick walk break, and after that climb...my legs fell off my body. At least that was what it felt like!!! Then the last 3km were a walk/run/walk...more walking...a little running...waving at people...walking yet some more...trying to get my guts to settle down...jogging into the finish. I had stopped my watch at around the 7km mark so I don't know what my finish time was and it doesn't really matter...next time I am going to try for 8km!!!

busy week

Crazy busy week. Crazy busy life. Knock on wood but none of us have been sick...so far. Dang, i hear about so many people getting sick and 5 kids from Matthew's grade one class have been home all week. Thank-you to those parents!! We are all healthy and well...but I do say a prayer every single night to keep us that way.

Monday was a rest day.

Tuesday was another hard run that had to get done way early in the am. Some more mile repeats. Why? Why the hell not.

Tuesday night we took the offspring to a Blades (local junior hockey team) game. Was fun! Have not been to a game in about 20 years. Those kids can play hockey...my oh my...I have gotten used to watching Novice hockey and it really is sssslooooowwww....

Wednesdy am was a swim. Was a pretty good swim. Had to swim with Mr. Intense who never speaks. He is hardcore and it is torture trying to draw a conversation out of him. I guess we are not there to talk but would be nice to be nice that early in the morning. Also tried to converse with Mr. Grumpy Pants but well, he's Mr. Grumpy Pants so....

I need company at my morning swims!!! Help!!!

Today was supposed to be another run but will get done tomorrow. I have a 10km race this weekend...actually it is the Jingle Bell Fun Run, but I want to see how fast I can run a 10km.

Why? Why the hell not.

omg GROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a shitty run on Sunday morning. I had not slept in two nights...Friday night was a Halloween party, home to bed in good time but could not sleep. Tossed and turned all night. Crappy. (this whole H1N1 thing has really confused me...somebody that knows something, please tell me what to do!!) Saturday was a total no go for any activity as I was really, really tired and we had a busy day with all sorts of stuff going on.

My only option was to do my run before swimming on Sunday. Again, no sleep as some pinhead's car alarm went off and of course I woke up and could not get back to sleep. So the run Sunday was a very tired one and mostly walking. Was a gorgeous morning though!! Got to swimming and did not want to swim. Visited on the pool deck for a good half hour before actually getting into the water. Was really not into it.

Then, it happened. We were at the end of the pool and one of the guys in my lane DRANK OUT OF MY WATER BOTTLE!!! Oh.my.god. I was so grossed out. And he put his mouth right around the spout...not like he just took a shot from a few inches out, he SUCKED on it!! Obviously, he had mistaken my bottle for his, so I moved the bottle to the other side of the diving block, thinking he would get the hint that he had the WRONG BOTTLE!!

Nope. The next time we were at the wall, he took ANOTHER SWIG FROM MY BOTTLE!!

I say "That's my bottle!! Yours is over there!!" And he was embarrassed/feeling bad...but the damage had been done....I was totally grossed out and had nothing to drink for my swim.

Then, something else happened.

Jenna and Chuck may not want to read any further.

After swim practise, in the changing room, a couple of the other swimmers who have kids that swim with the local swim team were talking. Apparently, the new coach for their club has told the kids that the bathrooms in the new pool are too far away and he does not want any of his swimmers taking long breaks so if you have to pee, pee in the pool.

WTF??!!

These are KIDS!! And if they need a friggin break....there is a REASON they need a break!! Let them go use the friggin bathroom for chrissakes!! There are other people using that pool.

Again, totally grossed out.