Skiing

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Sewing

Most people know that I can sew. I call myself a beginner...and really I am. I get alot of help from a co-worker when I am working on specific projects but honestly I could use a few good home ec classes.
I also have serger envy, soo many projects would just look better if I had a serger.

These jammies are the kids Christmas jammers. Minor problem with the neck. In fact and to use my little ripper friend for their heads to go in. Think I might have to completely re -do the tops as related to non- stretch properties of flannel.

Lusting over at the years best Burda sewing.
Shirt
Top
Dress
Party Dress

Motivation

Admittedly I have some problems getting anything physical done this time of year. Thus I am in the first third of a 30day running streak. Basically I must do a run every single day -no breaks. Ok it doesn't have to be a long run, in fact the shortest distance can be 2km. That's the standard I set for myself. Not always easy but at least it is something.

Oh and I thought of a great trail running quote they other day...

..If I can see where I'm going, I don't want to go there.

Happy Hanukhah

And here is our family photo in front of the Christmas tree. One really should notice the phallic looking pig angel ornament. Ever has his cape around his neck. Luke refused to take the picture when we had people over to take the photo so the camera was balanced on a pillow and a book on top of a rolling chair. Meanwhile, Maya was crying cause she wanted to to be in charge of the whole operation and pose us in artful positions. Luke's goatee is getting greyer by the day. AND if the bags under my eyes and the craters around my mouth get any bigger the locum Doctor that's does 'restorative' medicine on the side will do me pro bono.

For those who love me last minute... yes all one of you.

• Sexy new jogging pants.
• Cookbooks- Looneyspoons Collection, Fresh, Canadian Living International

China

I am always telling Maya of the evils of things produced in China, and how the Dollar store is the pit of all evil as everything there is produced in china.

Thus I hastily peel of a sticker of  a present purchased not in a dollar store but an upscale store that bears the mark of the beast... MADE IN CHINA.



Secret Santa

Over at Runners Mania there is a Secret Santa operation that I love to participate in. I think there is to be a $20- 25 limit but generally I go over. Super fun stocking your person to find out miner details to expand upon.

The other day I received mine in the mail. I had asked for running music play lists and boy did I get them! Current favorite playlist, cds of all time favorites, and even an itunes gift card. Apple will not know what to think of me, buying stuff...Unheard of!!! Also got a lifetime of Christmas letters (my kinda person!) Chocolate- long gone, a buff ( which I really needed.) And a head warmer- re gifted item. (LOVE re-purposed stuff)

Now all I gotta do is send mine out...after I get it organized...after I stock my person some more.

Strip at Night- Las Vegas Half 2011

There is a group of us who run training runs together, start races together, and some random chatter came from someone who thought it would be fun to run the strip at night, and it actually happened cause somebody was organized enough to see that it wasn't just random chatter. Sooo if I was going to Vegas, I didn't want to go without Luke and if Luke wanted wanted to go, he had to run a race while he was there. Initially, I wanted to run the full marathon but as they only allotted 6000spots for the full,  it sold out back in September. Thus, I was running the half with Luke. I committed to running the entire 21k with him.

There were seven of us running the race, one volunteer and one spectator. We all went to the expo on Saturday morning. Us and about 30 000 other. I had been looking forward to seeing some products that are hard to come by in Canada, and was hoping for a few American prices, but it was crazy insane time. I did manage a desperately needed new bra and met the author of this book, made an idiot of myself and bought a signed copy.
Was hoping for a fully stocked swag bag....umm not to much. There was a cheapo headlamp and we were lucky and actually got a shirt, as I hear they ran out later in the day.

So Sunday evening came, and we suited up in our matching caveman/ flint stone/ Tarzan and Jane costumes. I knew it was going to be a little busy when at 2:30 there were a ton of people already at the race site. Due to a little logistical nightmare that almost ended our marriage we were trying to park our car at the race site- North end of the strip and could not get a spot, nor could we get a spot at ANY parking lot. All casinos and parking lots were closed and locked tight. ...and thus begins the problems we experienced at the race.

We arrive back at the race site a couple hours later and for this little country gal from Bruce County... I have never seen so many people, and I have been to a Billy Graham Crusade. Between the half and the full there are around 44000 people.  Of course we have to pee, and actually have no trouble finding a portapotti- we just looked for the non obvious location and there wasn't even a line . Felt sorry for the poor suckers waiting 20deep.

This race had an honer system of corrals at the start line. Basically when you registered you indicated your expected finishing time and you were assigned  to a corresponding corral. I had put down a 1:45 time thus was to be in the fourth corral. Luke had put around 2hours and was to be in the 13th. However as a group from Hanover we all wanted to start together so we all seeded ourselves in the slowest of the group 2:30 or the 22nd corral.... and that was our mistake.  The main issue was we were soooo cold waiting for the waves to go off. I had not thought at all about throw away clothes and I like to run almost naked so it was pretty cold huddling in 5degree weather in shorts. I was desperate and  I called out to anybody wanting to get rid of mitts I would be happy to take them. A fellow in front of me gave a hot pocket and I was in bliss. Eventually we started moving towards the start line and I had a practically wrestle a volunteer for a jacket thrown on the ground they were cleaning up so fast.

Once we crossed the start line I thought things would open up a bit, ummm nope, once we went 5k I thought things would open up a bit, ummm nope, once we were past 10k...ummm nope. It was ridiculous. I mean we were supposed to be around 2:30- there has to be  running at that pace! Sure there can be 5-10:1 but there has to be some running!!! Unfortunately,  the  majority  of the race we were surrounded by walkers. It was ridiculous, walkers from the get go right in front of us. And the sure mass of people. I am sorry but the race course just simply could not have handled anymore. We were packed in their like sardines. It was so crazy, I just wanted Luke to be able to open up and run- instead he was on the defensive the entire race trying to go in between people and not lose each other. Sure we should have started in a higher corral but all over people are saying that even in the upper corrals there were walkers from the get go.  Luke's time ended up being 2:31:19- which is dramatically slower than what he is capable of doing. I think in an open course he could have done 2:05- 10.
We started slow and finished fast, at the end Luke was doing 5:15ks and we were flying by people....and I was along for the ride. I ran ahead to get water for Luke and bring it to him. I told him when to take gels. Just as an after thought I brought some. Thank goodness I did as there was no sugar drink on course- apparently they ran out. Nothing new on race day eh, why not try a untested gel.  Anyways, I also was the comic relief. Made a  race out of the port a potty visit. 14 seconds. Seriously what are people doing in there???? Yelled out random stuff, "All right mile 8, whatever that means," "Yippee,it is a tattoo parlor beside the Lily of the valley wedding chapel
Now I know lots of people got sick from the water, we were fine but my major issue had to due with the lack of music on course. That's right, a rock in roll marathon was stone cold quiet. Luke even wished he had his ipod! Honestly there were not that many bands, and when we did see a set up nobody was playing.

We cross the finish line,  immediately grind to a stop. We did manage to get medals apparently they ran out, and I took over for Miss Alabama and put Luke's medal on myself. Then there was anger, Luke started yelling cause he couldn't move, and cause I had temporary put my iphone in my bra. I am trying to calm him down while possibly holding up the line cause 'gasp' I wanted a space blanket and a green banana. Was so intensely cold and desperately trying to hold on to stuff, and to keep Luke from freaking out. Apparently, when I finish races I am quiet and frustrated and Luke is loud and angry.
We didn't even think of going into the host Hotel where all the drama happen, we just wanted to get back to our hotel....which was 3.5k away...and it started raining...It was raining in the desert and we were there for it.  Less than ideal for Luke's first half marathon, notice I didn't say last. He wants to try again, but maybe not in Vegas.

Christmas

Usually I don't like anything the masses do...but I love Oatmeal.
Here is his take on Christmas.
This photo is a festive display from Vegas.

Dinner

The children are having convulsions of sadness due to squash for dinner. There is no room for pickiness in this house, more for me I say and I hope they enjoy empty bellies.


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What will come

Jammie jammers!





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It's 2011

Luke would not share nicely. so what he buy me an iPhone for ass I am testing it out using the microphone this is extract who I hope to utilize all the apps at work and at play and organizing on like hopefully it works.


So we have a few bugs to work out with the microphone.


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Ankle

Today while running to twisted my ankle. The normal rational person would think"....oh crap guess I'm out of it for awhile." Meanwhile I think, "Great that should break up some scar tissue, I could walk for a bit, until the crying stops."

Note- this picture is from the some when I was convinced I had some odd swelling. Those are your old joggers Annie.

Knees

Upon hanging up laundry in the basement this evening and inspected the boys knees in all of his pants, it is decided.
If a new pair of pants are to be purchased they should be purchased at the Sears store. Apparently they have a program where if your kid wears  out of an item of clothing before they outgrow it, it is replaced free.
Bet they didn't know about my child, the boy wonder who does not grow. Well his trunk seems to grow a bit but his legs will be just like his Daddy's, short.  As evidenced by the continual wearing of size 2 pants.

Another reason to hate smokers...

... their sense of entitlement about littering. Like the law does not apply to their cancer sticks.

Names

Maya is going to Brownie camp this weekend.

She is Luke's daughter thus everything down to her socks and cutlery is being branded with a large Bellamy. There has been numerous threats about about losing anything.
She is responsible but I have to keep her honest. She is Luke's daughter.

Why? Well his Nana tells stories of his family leaving from a gathering without shoes, and currently Luke has lost his running shirt and he isn't really allowed to take a towel to hockey anymore.
Bellamys.
And i'm not funding it.

Swears

Just FYI

If your speech is riddled with swear words. I think less of you.
The occasional, when situational appropriate is fine, otherwise please keep it to yourself.
This is especially  true in a professional working environment.

Lunches

I remember once being at my sisters house and there was a discussion about what was for school at lunch that day, and I thought why not just make it it home- it has to be cheaper, more nutritious, and less wasteful.
Now isn't hindsight 20/20.
I was so wrong. What I wouldn't do for school lunches now.

It is a chore in this house we hate. Making the lunches. There is just so many restrictions on what to take, what they will take/eat  and lack of cooking/ heating facilities at the school. I mean if I had to take what they have to take on a daily basis I would starve....and I think sometimes my kids do based on what comes home.

So here is out there on what my kids take on their lunches:
-Hard boiled eggs.
-Chick peas from a can.
-Beans from a can.
-Hummus and something to smear it on.
-Laughing Cow cheese and something to smear it on. I should mention I got into a huge fight last year with a teacher and ended up hanging up on her. Why, cause Maya bought a butter knife to school. She was an idiot who thought one could dip bread into crackers. We also fought about her telling children should not use utensils in general at lunch.(Insert bad word here)
-Pasta in a thermos
-Soup in a thermos
-Leftover bean and squash wraps
-Leftover salad
-Yogurt in a container. We don't buy those individual ones full of sugar so there is always a worry about leakage.
-Sandwich with meat. I don't like meat so we don't have this often.
-Meat sticks- Like hot rods.
-Carrots.
-Cucumbers.
-Green beans so not local nor in season.
-Any fruit except bananas.

What else??
- We can't send granola bars cause the only ones I think are good ( larabars- and are too expensive) have nuts in them.
-Our standard fill up snack is nuts- so foiled again.
-Even when I want to be nice and send a treat... it has nuts in it.
-Some people  are all jacked up on sending 'other butters'. BUT they contain canola oil and are not nutritious and actually may be dangerous. ie. Soy. So really what is the point?
-Most crackers have to many ingredients so I think they are junk.
-Some people send cereal but it is too expensive and that is to many grain products in a day.

But here's the thing, on any given day one of them can decide they don't like it anymore and that is off the list for months. We are not going all out and making custom lunches.
Due to my influence Maya  has expressed concern about her classmates lunches. At one point she asked me to come in to talk about healthy lunches, so my point is we are not going to trade nutrition values for convenience.
I just think it would be easier if we could send nuts... and I am not just saying that cause I sent a peanut butter sandwich once after I had working the night shift.
If anybody has healthy  easy lunch suggestion please do pipe up and let your voice be heard.

It is ok to take candy from strangers night!!!

Maya wanted to be a sparkle gitter princess, which is so boring she might as well broke my heart and gone as a Disney princess. However after some intense Internet research we negotiated to agreeing upon Cleopatra. Still royalty but not so commercialized. On the plus side I think there is little to no chance Disney will ever rape her story as there is no way to celebrate her incestuous marriage to her brother.
Mayas costume breakdown. Bride costume from last year repurposed. Gold belt repurposed from angel costume two years ago.  Excess fabric from the basement for the neck and cape thingie. Jewels and headband from the dollar store. Sinful.

Ever is a knight. He wanted to be a superhero, but there wasn't anything in the dress- up truck to use. So I just kinda told him what he was going to be. Don't worry he put his two cents in, to the point we had to show him what knights wore before he would actually put on his costume.
The cape was a skirt I wore when I was 22 and lined with given to me fabric. The rest of the costume is thanks to the McCutcheon- Cutting Family. Those are Kyles helmet and sward... and the armor is Courtney's old fish-hook purse.

Luke is a Pirate- Bear. There is nothing to say about that patheticness.

I'm a gypsy. The costume was inspired by my lack of shower in five days and dirty hair. Who goes well with a head scarf- gypsy costume of course! It was decided that perhaps Hanover should see a revival of the Bohemian look just so we can dress like this on a daily basis.

Post trick- er treating spoils. Plan- eat as much as possible before the kids notice it is gone.

Horror

Just cause I have not done enough distance races this year, and I wanted some pizza, and I really liked the race shirt I thought it would be a good idea to run in circles and do the six hour race at Horror hill.

This race wasn't about anything in particular. I wanted to get 50k in  but if I didn't I wasn't going to care to much. I just wanted to go out and run. A lady from the tri club was participating in the three hour  and I was really interested in seeing how she did.

The one thing that I did want to work on was spending less time at the aid station, and somehow I figured that meant not eating much......and you can pretty well figure out how that worked. Fail.
By the time I realized my error it was way to late. It took two laps to get down my sandwich. Then I just sat for a bit. Didn't work so just go up and started going again and kinda hoped I would puke so I could start again. The sensation was similar to pregnancy- so nauseous cause I was hungry but I was so nauseous I couldn't eat. I also though maybe I was dehydrated and  to kill two birds with one stone I thought it would be smart to drink some Gatorade. It wasn't. Finally I was moping along and Barb G told me to drink some coke. At that same moment a woman had fallen and I stopped to assess her. The son who was in the race didn't want me to stop but quite frankly I was looking for a reason to stop. She was fine so I had to keep going. So when I got around to the aid station I sat down and drank some coke and ate some pretzels and basically for the next 90min kept pretzels in my pocket and munched away.

Cause I am not really trained for six hours like the other girls were who were racing I was cool with the end result of 53.3k. Less than last year actually but I finished with way less fatigue and muscle pain than last year. Although, when later that evening when I walked Maya to a friends house she did express concern about me getting home ok.

Another joyous moment was telling Ron G that no I am not interested in having sex with him on the trail as I am only interested in monogamous relationships and I am already in one. He said I am only the second who has ever turned him down, good times.

Next up, strip at night- VEGAS!!!!!

Bruce County Hip

Thanks to Grammy, Maya is sporting skinny jeans and a Bench sweater.
She is decidedly hipper than I.

I will be going to the grocery store shortly in my jogging pants just to make it official.

More Posts for Andrea

As Andrea is nursing and sitting and generally bored and has been asking for posts, heres one for her!
Kyle Owen Vanderkooy- to be called Kie.
Just for the record I am slightly bitter she didn't name him any of the names I suggested. I really want to know what was so wrong with Archie or Aloysius??

Done and Done!

 

In November of 2010 somebody asked me what my plans were for 2011- in reference to sport/ races and impulsively I said, " Oh I think I might just stick to the trails next year."
And it seems for me the best decisions I make are the ones made on the fly with no thought nor insight. I am really fun to go shopping with.
I decided I would do the OUSER trail series with the aim to win it. It is a nine races series, your best five races count towards the Brian Hutson Award. For the reccord I do not know who Mr Hutson is. The distances are 25-32k which I knew I could handle with out falling apart and manage to keep my distance where it needed to be. I ended up doing six of the races that counted towards points. I did have competition from another girl who did four of the races and if she would have done the 25k at Vulture bait instead of the 50k she would have won..... and thats OK cause she is the faster runner. But she didn't and I am so blissfully happy. I knew there was a trophy for the other series in OUSER but I had no idea I would have a trophy to take home on Saturday. I was super happy that the man who shall remained unnamed and his wonderful wife hung around to see me get my trophy and act as official photographers. Thanks !!!! Now the trophy is on my sideboard and anybody who comes to my house has to see it. I even took it to work the day after I got it.

There is something to be said about setting a goal ans working towards it that gives a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Even when my ADD brain was thinking about a ton of other events I focused and did it. The only one I planed to do but backed out of was the ITT, for the simple reason I didn't want to drive to Burlington.

So now onto next year. I have been giving more thought to Boston qualifying and as I find it easier to train in the winter I could get a ton of mileage and do a 100miler...but I think I better think on  that for bit.

Vulture Bait

ahhhhh Last OUSER race of the year. At last a rainy day. I waited all frickin year to run a trail race in the cold and rain. I would have really preferred it in July, even September but I will take what I can get.
Got to London in good time and spent about 40min in my car trying to decide what to wear. In the end I went with the two layer combo of short and long sheves. And in the end of the race I was too hot, should have had a long sleeve and pulled up the arms as needed.
Met some Owen Sound peeps prior to the race, then at the start line asked all the girls who knew me where I should be and that's where I found the man who shall be unnamed. Wore my garmin just so I could keep track of my kilometres. The one fault of most trail races is you could be at km 5 or 15 or 18 and really have no clue. I also find it helpful to coordinate my numbers with the courses just so I know I am on course correctly.

Really liked this course, perfect fall location. Minor complaint being a long road section with a bridge where the wind wiped from all directions. I tucked in behind a fellow who was over dressed and rode it out. Major complaint (Not really) was the water crossing. Seriously I thought? In October? Am I really on course? My choices were try to skip along the rocks that were submerged or barrow though. In any event both choices would result in completely wet feet. Seems simple enough, but strangely I must have lost at least a minute making this decision.

Really was done about 20k in. Nagging left leg injury that I swore on the course I WILL be seeing physio about was causing serious issues. Should have taken more calories in, and perked up after getting some at the last aid station. The funny thing about this course is its lack of hills. In most trail races I usually don't run up alot of hills I just get low and walk. The benefit of this is conserving energy and actually getting a bit of rest and recovery from running. I found my self twice walking for the count of ten just to get a break. All that got me through the last bit was thinking about the line for massage and I had to run fast to beat the line. I was super smart and stashed a dry sweater at the building so as soon as I was done I got rid of my wet top and jumped right on the table.

Very happy to see the finish line in 2:09:58. Was quietly hoping for sub 2:15- but with this bum leg was thinking maybe 2:30. I think this might be a PB for this distance actually.  Good enough for third place and a free pair of Montrail shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK  one more thing to say. Whats with all those girls who look really fast but in reality are not?

Tobermory Turkey Trail Run

Very pleased with this first year event. Two EMS based there used this event to fill the down time planning it. Benefiting a planned local fitness park. Incorporating a track with a play structure in the middle. Quite frankly at times in my own life I would have drove there to use. Progressive.

I did the 10miler, a mix of gravel roads, snowmobile trails, long lane ways, Bruce trail and a golf course. The only thing I have to complain about is the heat. Hot for October. Sure there was course marking questions, but what trail race doesn't have them?

At the start line I had my usual freak outs- one female I know is faster so that's ok. LOTS- (ok like 5)-  of skinny looking, LuLu girls who I figured were holidaying in the area. I figured i could pull off a top 5. Right away Joan pulls ahead- which is fine- she is faster, and surprisingly she stays in my sight for a large portion of the race. When you could see further than five feet for the trees. I was motivated by three things:

• There was a woman with a dog running behind me, I hate dogs, I especially hate dogs I do not know.
• The winners got chocolate apples. I like chocolate apples.
• Luke gets mad at me if he does not think I tried my best. 

In the end I was 1:25ish for 16k. 2nd female, and I beat the male 39and under male. I usually am not competitive with the runners who have testicles but he seemed upset I passed him.

Great chili meal post- with the option to buy for the family. most people stuck around for the endless door prises. I got a $50 gift certificate for a local gift shop that was having a 50% off sale. I didn't buy the bongs.

Helmet Heads

On Saturday we rode our bikes from Meaford to Thornberry. A distance easily covered by the kids.....unless you forget the first 3k is uphill. Many tears for that section by Ever , resolved shortly there after.

Mental note- when riding with the kids go east to west on the Georgian trail.



Cross Country

Ahhhh my favorite, so excited this year to have my baby girl participate.
Problem is I don't know who's little girl she is.
The thing is she is as non- competitive as they come. There was intense discussions about running just for fun vs. running to win. We settled on trying our best and feeling like you left it all on the course when you cross the line.

The school elected to not really push the kids to fulfill their potential. I strongly feel if you want to see any result you need to run five times a week. The kids would be amazed at the progress they make. However my suggestion was ignored and they ran three times a week. Repeatedly the teacher would give the kids misinformation and Maya would repeat it back to me and repeatedly I had to inform her that no, as her teacher is not a runner she is wrong. Now it is not as if I am complaining and didn't try to do anything about it. I volunteered to come everyday I wasn't working/sleeping to run/coach the kids. I wasn't wanted. It is not as if I am the only one though, other runner parents have asked to help and they were turned away as well.

I am very proud of Maya, I think she gave as much as a person who hates competition can. And team sports isn't really her thing either as evidenced by her intense dislike of the team shirt. I don't think she dislikes running, but I do think she doesn't like races. However, this is one of the activities this family does for physical activity so she is doing it.