Last Night in Montreal

Really enjoyed Last Night in Montreal by Emily Mandel. Picked up at the local library.
A page turner that kept me awake after working nights. A story that I felt myself wanting to be a part of, wanting to experience life the way the drifting main character does, sometimes I get frustrated by the roots we have.

Judger

On the heels of Ericka's post I must admit that I am a person who judges those who don't show love.....and even Mormons need love.

Everybody go to PostSecret- it is a good thing.

Master Artist

Ever has learned how to draw circles, now all his big truck drawings have tires.

Food

The grocery store had 'local' asparagus on sale. Really who knows where it came from, at least it had a foodland Ontario tag, but I digress. I bought a ton much to the amusement of all shopping. 'What are you going to do with all that asparagus??? To let the world know- I froze it. Asparagus soup in January anybody?

On Tuesday night we had roasted chicken, quinoa, steamed asparagus, and apple pie for desert. I didn't make the pie, it was a fundraiser fro a couple going to Honduras.

On Thursday night we had Chicken pot pie. The roasting pan has the chicken for the pot. The red casserole has the veggies, and the sliver pot has the cream sauce i made- ready to be all mixed together and topped with a pastry crust.

Rant

Called today to make an appointment with my FD for some routine bloodwork.
My appointment......July 26. Of course the nice receptionist suggested I could go to ER if this wasn't soon enough.

Not that I know all the answers, just know there has got to be a better one.

Mississaga Marathon Observations from Luke

• Eating with runners the night before a big race, is NOT something to do if you are looking to lose weight. 
• Noticed a runner kind of running oddly, then noticed that her thighs had rubbed themselves raw the prior 17km and were bleeding. Probably the most painful thing I have seen in a long time. But she was obviously determined to finish.
• Saugeen tri club members loved when I cheered for them on the course, which I do extremely loud and long. That's a lot of fun.
• Had a great time hanging out with everyone.
• Marathon rate at a very nice hotel made me feel spoiled. Best water slide I have been on in a long time. Seriously.
• Seeing everyone run half and full marathons, in no way, shape, or form, makes me want to do it sometime.
• It is sort of stressful trying to beat the runners to spectator points to see people go by. Especially if they are fast. I missed Bevin for this reason.
• I didn't take enough pictures... as usual.

Mississauga Marathon and Half-Marathon Crew (most of them anyway)

Missasuaga Marathon 2010

Well that is done, checked off, and yes I finished.
All week before I was just waiting and resting. Waiting to get hurt, waiting for something to happen so I wouldn't be able to run. I had dreams/ nightmares of all that training going to waste, but surprisingly I made it to the start line.

Went down the day before- THANK YOU STEPHANIE AND PAUL for looking after the kids. Luke and I almost got a divorce related to my crustiness/nervousness and would have not done well with the kids there. Toured the expo. Was disappointed at the size, I had hoped to get some arm warmers but I didn't see anything at all. Saw my Internet friend Kim. Bought some blister preventers and was the best $10 ever spent. Will give you one Ron. Went out to dinner with Tri club people who don't have links and then had fun at the pool/water slide. We had an amazingly comfortable bed at the Delta and I actually slept. Well in between nightmares.

Rise and shine at 5:20. Quick got ready and ate my porridge I had brought, a little extra chia seeds than usual. We all got to the race site in good time. Enough for last minute prep and a quick trip to the porta potties. Pictures taken, gear left with my WONDERFUL SHERPA HUSBAND and got the the starting corrals.... and I had to pee. OK to late now- will pee at a porta potty along the way.
Cannon goes off and walk four minutes to the start line. The first 5k were gravy. Just fun enjoying the moment and whoo they went by fast. Realised at 12k that I could BQ if I held steady and soon realized I had a bit extra to hold onto. But I didn't want to waste any of that time on the porta potty. So I was that girl splashing water down the front and down the back.

Before I knew it the half were separating from the fulls. I started crying realising that I was actually doing this, then was soon brought back to reality by the man who looked like a skeleton wearing the skimpy shorts and no shirt. Seriously put on a singlet.
Anyways crossed the half mark at 1:48. Felt good. Was following the pace band, feeling like a 3:38-40 would be possible.
Then I hit 25k, saw a man peeing in the trees- yelled out whoo hooo, and at that exact moment my right calf cramped/seized completely. Immittlty stopped, stretched it out and walked for 500metres up a hill. Watched the 3:40 pace bunny go by- who wasn't nice when I asked her a few questions by the way. Eventually stared running again. Every step was painful and hard. Saw the 3:45 bunny by....then it was pure survivor mode to finish. By 36k realised that were was no hope of regaining time lost., and just hoped to finish by 4:00 and threw away my 3:40 pace band. I like to call 38- 40.5 k a special version of hell. I walked a bit and kept on thinking if I can make it to 41k it will just like picking up Maya- only 1.2 to go. Thankfully the crowd support was there bringing me in. Sadly I was still listening to my Ipod and just about missed Andrea who had come all the way to see me finish. I saw her at the last moment and blew her a kiss. Her coming really made my day!
Then I was at the finishing shoot and I gave a strong finishing kick. Chip time 3:49:10

I know I should be happy with my effort for a first marathon.. but damn you nine minutes from keeping me from Boston and my ever so lusted Boston Jacket. Curses to those spectating with one on mocking me with me not quite enough time.

What did I learn? Same thing I say after every long run. More long tempo runs.
I think I could have done better with my nutrition. I had 3-4 E-LOAD tablets, a ton of water, and two sharkies every time I thought of them- which amounted to slightly less than three bags. I also took in 3 orange slices and a small piece of banana along the way. I had a gel with me but really didn't want to take it soo I didn't.

Where do I go from here?
At one point during the race I could see a trail system and for a moment forgot myself and started to go towards it, thinking 'oh lets get off this road and do something fun'. Telling I would say. I truly enjoyed the distance but did not enjoy the roads. I looked way to enviously at the bike riders.Wishing I was riding instead of running on this -insert bad word here- pavement. Thankfully it is triathlon season and my first is coming quick, thus it is time for me and my bike to become closer.

Luke's Music

At 32, I have come to realize that my music tastes that I once thought diverse, have narrowed. While I used to download and update the songs on my ipod pretty regularly, but now for the last couple of years  I just listen to the Dance Department, Tiesto's Club Life, and Indie Feed Electronica podcasts. While those podcasts cover a wide variety of music, I typically enjoy the sort of french house electronica that groups like Daft Punk, all of the Ed Banger crew, SebastiAn and several others create. One primary theme being that very little of what i listen to has lyrics. The other being that what I listen has a lot of variety within the spectrum of the genre, from a nice heavy beat, to a more ambient mixed style.
Besides that , I guess I also listen to a lot of Massive Attack, and a few other random ones that I have picked up off of the internet. Oh ya, that and several CBC podcasts when I don't want to listen to music.
Otherwise its electronic stuff.



Oh and also, rumour is that Daft Punk is going on tour this summer to promote the Tron Legacy soundtrack, which they created. So if they are in Toronto, Anne and I plan on going if anyone else is interested.

Dinner

-Lemon Cranberry muffins.
-Swiss Chard pie with olive oil dough
-Spinach quiche

Enough for two days.... except for the muffins. Really those mini muffins do not make me eat any less.. maybe even more.
Do not look at the messy stove. Well do and understand that the stove top I clean and under the burners Luke is responsible for.

Muddy Children

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Potty Trained

Well the deed is done, there will be no more diapers in this house, all because *drum roll* Ever is potty trained!

This picture is of Ever's first pooh on the potty. I was downstairs and Ever did this all by himself then came to get to me and show me. I'm not one of those sit with you while you defecate parents.

The entire process wasn't that painful. Ever basically initiated it by deciding not to wear diapers anymore cause they brothered him. What potentially started the movement was a big discussion about what happens when you pooh in the pool.
So we decided it was time, and we commit. There is no diapers at night, there is no pull ups ( diapers marketed as another name), and only once did he pooh in his pants. Sorry Stephanie. I think the process took a week.
I have a sense of disbelief about the whole thing. Really... !!No more???
It had to happen soon cause I kept on forgetting to change his diapers anyways.
Now the next step is moving from the potty to the toilet cause we aren't so good at emptying the potty, so then Ever does it, and well sometimes it doesn't work out so well. To facilitate this we are getting this amazing toilet seat.

So now I have all of the diapers for sale. Anybody want to be completely set up for $175?

Trillium Race

So on Saturday Anne and I (that's right, it's Luke writing this one)went to Mount Forest to do a race on a cold, rainy miserable day. Running keeps you warm though.
So I did the 5K. Time was 25:16. My legs are really sore, but I think if I do a few more races and run a bit more I will be able to do under 25min without trouble this summer. Wow, that was a lot shorter than Anne's reports!

Anne did 10K in 45:18 (she thinks). So she was running faster than I was for twice the distance, and she feels fine. I am not sure how I feel about that.
Plus it was basically a fun run for her as she was holding back for the marathan she is doing next weekend. We are going alone and the kids are staying with Grammy, which will be great.

Maya's Dance

So this year Maya did ballet at the grey-bruce school of dance, and enjoyed it thoroughly.
Here is a video of what her class performed at local dance competition prior to the recitals. Her group received 1st place @ 89%!

April Totals

Swim 9.97k
Bike- 87k
Run- 239.09

A good month... but could somebody come and vacuum our house?