Camp Mishewah

Last year we went as a family to Camp Mishewah for family camp, we did have a good time- but knew it was possible to have a better time. We both felt with Ever being so young, cooking out of doors, and my constant need for training, going this year would not be for the best. We will go again but will eat 50% of our meals in the cafeteria, divide up the duties of preparing to go better so it is not just an Anne show, get a cabin, and buy stock in a bug repellent company. We felt good about not going, but did feel a little sad when everybody was preparing to go while we are doing nothing.
However I am reading the weather report for this week and it is all good for us to be at home in our warm, dry house.
Sorry!!

Fighting

Some of the big issues couples fight about include money, the children, and time.
US?? We fight about... how to load the dishwasher. Constantly.

Whole Family Fun

We are in definite need of one of these- 4 seater.

One day, Two races.

As I am a sucker for any race where I do not have to drive more then a hour, and would hate to miss out on one.. hence I end up doing crazy things like three big races in six days or two in one day. Lucky for me, both were low key events, and I didn't really plan to race either hard.

8am
New Heights 5k Run 4 Health. Run by the local gym- of which I am not a member to benefit the new recreation centre in town. Very informal race- in fact I wonder if the organizers had ever actually been to, or run in a race before. I understand it is the participants responsibly to know the route but, honestly usually I have somebody in front of me, or quite frankly I'm not thinking and do need marshals, little arrows or marks on the pavement telling me where to go. Yah so there was none of that. Hence I made two wrong turns. There was somebody in front of me, but I lost him after the first wrong turn. There was a little matter of there being no water at one of the water stations, and the station that did have water, gave it to me in a unopened bottle- hmm little hard to untwist it while you are actually running., not to mention the waste from all those water bottles, which I had to throw on somebodies yard when I was done with it cause there was no collection for said bottles. I franky have no idea of my time or the distance I did cause it really didn't seem like 5k- even with the extra distance I did. I was second overall, first female- but really whatever. Post race food was yummy, just a little unconventional. Generally communal bowls of strawberries, blueberries, and almonds with everybody reaching in the bowls with their dirty hands isn't something you see at races, but whatever. After all it is of charity. ( This is me making a gaging motion as you can do something for charity, cheaply and still put on a quality event.) All this fun for $25 and a I got a 'free' water bottle. No bling for my efforts though.

11am
Glammis Gallop Duathlon. This guy decided he wanted to have a race at his house.. so he did. Awesomeness. 4k, 20k, 4k. My plan was to do easy 5mink for the first 4k, hammer the bike with a really high cadence, and do whatever I felt like for the last 4k. I predicted I would finish in around 1:30.... and I did it in 1:31. There was only around 15 people there, mostly teachers, and even one pro showed up. Fun crowd. No prises, only door prices- of which everybody got one. Post race BBQ, and pornographic photo opportunity with the pro taking a shower under the water hose. I did not take part in photo taking but did eat a hamburger. Tremandous fun for $10.

Last Day of School

The big excitment last week was Maya's SK graduation. An evening affair with CAKE!! MY goodness you would think these children are fed a diet of groul the way they carried on about the cake. So now onto Summer and grade one.
Minor concern about the summer, as in no plans, none. Maya didn't want to do soccer, baseball, and apparently never even as an adult wants to play tennis. Will have to look into swimming leasons. But seriuously what are we going to do all day, everyday???

Story Book Park

Ever was all into the park, more so then Maya ever was. He is less then two and did all the kiddie rides- Maya still has not done the airplanes. His outfit would have been cuter- except for a minor vomit incident on the way there. Oh and thanks for my 'friends' wondering why I was on the side of the ride.. and not stopping.

On food

Love this

Minor obsession with Larabars. Yumist Yum Yum. Somebody find me some recipes they are too expensive to buy all the time and to yummy to miss.

Guelph Lake Sprint Duathlon

Second Multi sport event of the year was a tad better than the first... no podium finish, but solid efforts.

Great 1pm start meant we didn't have to rush this morning and actually left our house until around 9:45. The day was not so much wet as it was wet, with a bit of mud thrown in. Got into the race site with a good amount of time to set up- in the rain, stand in a long line for registration- in the rain, and warm up- in the rain. I really tried to warm up before the race- even did a few sprints, A's and B's- but no matter what I do I am just not ready when the gun goes off. Really I think I might need to run a few k's just to get going. Or maybe jump rope. HMmmm. For this race I had a gel prior to the race start and I could have washed it down with more water, but I think it went well.
First run was good- 4:19/k. T1 was wet, and I had a knot in my shoe- thus had a hard time getting it off.

Bike: Due to the MUD was sure I wouldn't be able to clip in.. but did after a few try's. Went really smooth. Felt there was alot more space on the course the Milton- even with more people. Only had a few females pass me which I am happy about. Followed the rules and stuck to the right which frustrates me cause nobody else does- I even passed people on the right cause they were riding close to the centre line. I can understand why you would want to.. the pavement being all smooth and all, but the rules do mention the importance of staying right. Speaking of which- didn't see a single OAT official on the bike course. Saw a man ridding in a speedo. Had a little trouble with my calf tightening and going into spasm. Had to change the way I pedaled for a bit and actually coasted to try to stretch it out. Managed to ride at 28km/hr. Which again needs work. Work= more time on the bike. Specifically hill work. T2 saw me fighting with the knot again, and me repeating reminding the competor beside me to take off his helmet before going out onto the run course.

Run Again: I actually had to stop and stretch my calf before I could get very far. Did alot of passing but was actually passed a few times by men. At one point I heard a man breathing behind me and thought he was having a asthma attack- but he just zoomed right past. He was 62. I tried a new strategy to help me de- stress on the run- I didn't look behind me.. Worked well- only focused on what was ahead and not behind. Run 2 was 4:48km- would have liked it under 4:30.

Overall am very pleased with today. My goal was 1:15 and I completed it in 1:16, which is good enough as far as i'm concerned. Fourth in my age group- but six minutes off third I am not getting the training in I need to make podium, so I am working on little things, learning little lessons along the way. Today I realised my transitions need to more focused, and how to mount and dismount quicker. It was a happy race. The highlight of the day for Maya was a little kids fun run with Luke. She was great- not nervous, and actually a little disappointed it was only a run and not a swim/bike/run. She worn a dress but she can wear wear her birthday suit for all I care as long as she is running.

I also saw a man run/bike/running with his teen daughter. Much like Rick and Dick Hoyt-warning- you will cry. I did today.

Actual Conversation

Me: Mrs. B was incontinent of stool????
Other nurse: Well when the elevator doesn't go all the way to the top, it will fall out the bottom.
Me: Laughing so hard I fall off the chair.

Maya's Favorite Expressions. Circa. Age 5

"I have a good idea!"

"Easy Peasy"

"I tricked you!"

"I don't want to walk"

Wet!

After battling with myself about buying one, dreaming about the consequences of not having one, being preached to against purchasing one, I BOUGHT one.

From the proceeds of our garage sale I was able to get a 2008 Orca Equip wetsuit. This is an entry level wetsuit. The tipping point was hearing the price.. 30% for new could not be beat, especially locally. Amazingly the last in my size, fits great, not uncomfortable at all. Amazing how it feels in the water. Impossible to drown. Gives me a whole new level of confidence. However open water is definitely different from the pool. I have come to depend on the wall for that split second break, so the continuously swimming is going to need some work.

So why do I need a wetsuit? This duel athlete would eventually like to become the occasional triathlete. In fact my long term goal is to complete an ironman. Long term...as in four years before I can even think about training. I'm in a building stage at present, just having fun, learning.

It is really a relief to have that last big purchase out of the way...except for new shoes in July, maybe some tri shorts that fit, oh.. and a treadmill.

Sadness

Today while running I took a short cut through the cemetery that I do not usually take. In doing so I found myself in the infant section. Here, there are small grave stones flush with the ground commemorating the short but meaningful lives of babes taken. Some of the parents names I recognized. At that moment I felt intense pain for those people who had gone through so much.

On the weekend I had a mother bring her babe to the emerg. The babe had multiple malformations, was not expected to live long and the parents had accepted it, they had not chosen to do everything they could, but allow it to live its short life dignified. The mother even chose to give the babe pumped breast milk. In the other room at the same time I had a retired Catholic priest who had given his entire life to serving God and now was in such pain. I cried that night driving home, both would soon be meeting their reward. One a short life, the other long. Both affected all they met. Both soon they both would be with our heavenly father.

Gone

Pictured is our beloved Mango. Last seen Sunday evening. He followed the children and I to the main road and when I made motions for him him to go home, he turned around and I assumed we would be seeing him later. We have not. I have made all the calls, to the town to local vets, animal shelters to no avail. Talked to many neighbours to no avail. And missed him....
He has been our fourth orange kitty to leave our home, preceding him were Kitty, George, and Carrots.
We will miss him following us as we walk down town, then waiting for us at the corner for us to come home; Coming when called; his un- dieing need for attention; and his tolerance for all things Ever- including his full body hug.
We knew this day had to come, what with his liking of strangers and taking naps in the middle of the street.
I think it may be time for a cat break.