Another Monday Routine

Well - it looks as if fate would bestow a Monday from hell on me not only for today but for the next three Monday's in the foreseeable future.

Actually my Monday routine started on Sunday night at 8:30. I was just getting ready to crash on the catch but decided I better drag myself up and get ready for tomorrow. I laid out my swim workout stuff only to realize I lost my goggles and swim cap already. But - no excuses - I got to go. Got my bag packed so I can head straight from practice to work to shower & get ready. Packed my lunch and got my dinner ready for when I came home. Then, to make it harder to say I can't go - I took my bags out to the car so all I had to do was brush my teeth, grab the lunch out of the fridge and out the door I go.

Yes, the alarm did go off at 5 and I finally rolled out at 5:15. Of course, Guinness faced another disappointment and the sweats didn't translate into her going for a walk. Maybe I can actually get up at 5 one of these mornings and get her a quick walk in before I need to leave. I pulled out of the garage at 5:30 am with the brisk temperature reading on the car of 38 degrees.

Well I went and I think I was a much better trooper this week. I was more in the zone of tell me what I need to do, how many lengths and let me do it. I just wanted it over with. Although some how there was only one other person left in the pool when I finished. Ha! But I did get it in and was at my desk by 8 am.

Which brings me to my new Monday routine - at least for the next three weeks:
5:15 am - Alarm
5:30 am - out the door
6:00 am - Swim practice
7:00 am - Drive to work, shower
8:00 am - Work
4:00 pm - Head home, change clothes, eat supper, walk dog
5:00 pm - work @ Lowe's
9:30 pm - Pack work clothes, lunch and head to bed for another 5:00 am rise & shine call!

The Mission Run

This morning was our Mission Run for training. What is the Mission run? Well - it is the morning where all the Team and Training Teams gather and honor those we are doing this for, our Honored Hero's, the one's we are remembering and the one's that are currently battling one of the diseases. Right now we have three "teams". One is my team - the triathlon team, one is training for a marathon and the other is training for the biking event around Lake Tahoe.

Unbelievable. I just can't use another word to describe what the morning was like. There was at least 50 of us, probably more - heading out on the "Silent Mile". The first mile we were to run in complete silence in rememberence of the hero's and those that have fallen to the cancer. The bicyclists rode single file at a snails pace while the runs of us jogged along. Everyone was wearing either a green (in honor), white (rememberence) or purple (survivor) ribbon.

I am hoping I get copies of the pictures soon so I can share with you. It was a great reminder why I am doing this and the fact that I don't feel 100% doesn't compare with one of our honoree's who is a young girl in the hospital fighting to get her white blood count up so she can receive more chemo which she desperately needs!

Swim Practice

All I can say about this is that I finally have experienced the Nazi coach that I was with the girls. Now - I mean Nazi in the nicest way possible. A coach very passionate about what they are teaching, pushing their students to be all they can and not allowing them to quit.

So with that intro - let me tell you about 6 am swim practice on Monday, yes I said MONDAY, mornings. You know me - so NOT a morning person. Heck - most know to not approach until at least one can of Diet Coke has been pumped into the veins! So - to do this and of all days a Monday morning when no one wants to get up anyway - is just insane.

Of course - that probably leads me to attest to why I didn't make the first two practices. No excuses made - I just was flat out lazy. Sorry softball girls! But, I figured this Monday I could do it! I mean - it was a Company Holiday and heck I could always go home and nap if it was bad.

So - I got up. But darn it - I wasn't feeling well again. More on that later. But I head out anyway. Of course - they try and sell this practice with it is an outdoor pool heated to 80 degrees. I so wanted to turn around, but kept trying the motto in my head - it is just an hour, not months of chemo.

I went and it sucked. Every second of it. The pool is 50 meters. Now - if I do the sprint version it is 200 meters swim in open waters. Double that for the Olympic version which they SWEAR we will be ready for. If I can't swim 100 meters in a pool - how am I going to finish 200 meters in open waters, or 400 for that matter. Of course - once I learned I was breathing wrong and I was actually causing myself to hyperventilate - well it got a little easier. But - damn I am out of shape.

Of course, the coach that was helping the "slow" swimmers was super nice, encouraging and hard as hell. But don't get me wrong - he also made it very clear I hadn't experienced exhausted yet. Ha!

I'll have to get a picture one of these mornings - very sexy in my goggles & swim cap I tell you! Stay tuned because I am sure this is the only beginning of the tales!

A month...already?

OMG - so I didn't realize that it has been a month already. Heck - looking back I can't even tell you what I have done in that time. Of course - maybe that is the problem...time. :) I finally broke down and took holiday decorations down yesterday. It was a sad moment..the house looks so empty now!

The holiday's were pretty laid back and done in Texas style this year. I spent the Christmas holiday's with the Curtis' families. Definitely a change after having spent 33 years doing the same routine. However, one thing stood the same...Grandma's Chili recipe on Christmas Eve! So yummy!

New Year's Eve was spent with the runner & trainer! The Chef man was at work - so I was stuck ringing in the new year with all couples. But - I still managed to have a good time. Soooooooooooooo thankful I stayed away from those shots they were creating!

Outside of that - all is pretty much the same but changed. I am going to be more diligent about these posts...you'll see. My New Year's resolutions really came to light over the weekend and I'll be educating everyone - I know just what you wanted!

Brrrrrrrr...winter has hit Texas

Yes it has. Now - I know that my brother sent a text this morning stating the Wind Chill was -30 degrees in Nebraska and that shouldn't compare to here. But - by Texas standards - it is darn cold.

Of course - thinking about this - maybe it is because yesterday was in the 70s and 75 inside my house. Or it could be that I didn't look at the forecast before Guinney & I headed to the Chef's house for the evening. Needless to say - short sleeves for work today was NOT a good idea. How cold is it - it was 34 with a windchill of 24. It will be lucky to hit 41. For some reason I at least grabbed the jean jacket on the way out - THANK GOD!

Of course - I thought you all would appreciate a little humor too...last Tuesday evening we had a sleeting/rain mix complete with Thunder. Anyway - there was some leftover on the windshields in the morning. According to the two *locals* in the department - they had a "Sheet of Ice" on their car. You be the judge.... Never mind one of the "locals" actually admits to wearing long johns when it doesn't get up to 50. Can you imagine what he would do in Nebraska?!?!?!

As for the rest of life - pretty much the same. Still dating the Chefman. Trying to figure out what to get him for his birthday (Thursday) and for Christmas. Still working both Jobs. Had it pretty easy being off the past could of weekends with company staying...but don't worry - this weekend will make up for lost time. Scheduled 5 days in a row at Lowe's - which will translate into 55 hours in 5 days! UGH!

Torture...no other way to say it.

For most - you all know that I love watching BL (Biggest Loser) every week. Of course this year hasn't been the same because Michelle has a Tuesday night class so we can't rant the next morning on the show. All I can say about this year is that I am sick of Vicki...she should of been cut a long time ago and I wish I could call the people and tell them to work their ass off so she doesn't win the big prize.

But, enough of that. For those of you that watch the show - you know that Jillian Michael's is one of the trainers on the show and takes no prisoners. My softball kids thought I could be cruel - they need to watch her. I mean - wall squats suck the way they are let alone having someone stand on your legs while you do it.

Fast forward to me ordering some of her workout videos. I didn't think they could be that bad - I mean they are videos, it is not like she is in my living room screaming at me. Well...she might as well have been. She royally kicked my ass from afar. THANK God that I didn't have the step - I couldn't imagine what that would of been like. Or that I had a break in the middle because I got a little crazy on those kicks and kicked the water glass over. :) It was 20 minutes of hell but in the end - I survived. My ankle survived. Guinney survived the trauma of running in and out of the back door to see what was going on.

And if that DVD was not enough - Guinness still got her walk. I still managed to get all the trim work painted in the spare bedroom done too. The bonus - I'm not really THAT sore this morning. PLEASE don't tell HER that though!

Reasons to be Thankful This Year

Well - as most do on Thanksgiving, I thought I would reflect on the reasons I am thankful:

1. I have a healthy & supportive family!
2. I have friends that support me unconditionally even if I don't see them that often.
3. In the tough economy - I am fortunate to have two jobs - even though I tend to complain about working so much.
4. I am thankful for having a home to call my own.
5. I am thankful for being in a safe and healthy place.
6. I am thankful for Guinness - the dog that never complains!
7. I am thankful for being brought to Texas - I have made some great friends and know there are a lot more things I will do in the coming years.
8. I am thankful for the Chef man - not only for his cooking skills but just for showing me there are good guys out there!

With that - I hope that each of you had a Great Thanksgiving and a safe & Blessed Holiday Season.