Ted Talks

I have heard about TED talks, but well, just wasn't ready to hear one more great and amazing thing that was going to change my life.
Twitter changed that, thanks to a link on my feed, and needing something to listen to while painting I listened to this talk.

And I feel better about myself. I think my inflated sense of self esteem just got bigger. And I am OK with that.

The Feed Zone

One of the blogs I stalk and have a minor girl crash on, errr follow mentioned a cookbook, and amazingly while making an amazon purchase to capitalize on a sale cause I am poor I remembered said cookbook and bought it. I have a minor cookbook addiction as well so it would have eventually made it into this house, most likely in 30 years from a garage sale.

The Feed Zone is mainly geared towards cyclists, but I wanted the fast healthy feature. As well I recently realised that I run really well long on power bar type things. BUT they get expensive at $2-3 ( Well the ones I like) In addiction, we are sick to death of feeding the kids lunches so here was hoping for ideas. As a side note, our kids are not those super picky eaters who come home having ate nothing. They eat.

Flipping through I see a ton of meat, which is minor issue as in,  I hate buying it. Where was the dead animal raised? What was it fed? How did it die,  where was it processed. I start feeling guilty for the cost to the world to produce meat etc. etc.
Also a lot of rice. Need a rice cooker, and a juicer. Not to make juice, but for the vegetable pulp.

Anyways made Cashew bacon bars. Very yummy. So yummy Luke fed them to the kids for dinner a night I was at work.

Which brings us to another issue. Allergies. I may ask my kids to be segregated, or at least eat their lunches at the curb. They can be the bad kids, not smoking,  but eating NUTS.

VB50k

Ran the race for the second year in a row. Last year I was super speedy and ran it in 2:09- the 25k. This time I was running double that on way less mileage. Good times.

I had gotten a letter in the mail in May promising a super amazing gift I registered before June first, and as my love language is things I didn't pay for even if it is junk, like a sucker I signed up. At the time of the sign up I do believe I was planning on a 50 miler and was feeling quite invincible. Then I had that bike accident. Then the summer became a roasting pan, and I have more excesses if you want.

So I went into this race with a long run at around 22k. Lots of bike mileage this summer, but nothing replaces time on your feet running so basically my plan was to wing it. I figured I am pretty strong mentally, and it is trail so really, I am young and why not?

My goals were simple, run a reasonable pace- not to fast but not too slow on the first of the 25k loop, and try to survive the second.
The first loop was great, met some people to talk to, listened to conversation around me, and just enjoyed being out on the trail. Remembered sections but do not recall that it was mostly made up single track so that was a bonus. First loop in 2:37.

Second loop was ran mostly on my own. I put on my ipod and basically bargained with myself. Run one song get to walk for a bit, that progressed to run two songs, and so on.
Around the 35k mark, I got a Tylenol from one of the aid station ladies. Around 40k the rain started, it was responsibly warm out so it was kind of refreshing. My hip which is always sore was sore, and as well my feet. I had worn brand new shoes for the occasion! Although it seems to me that I only get sore feet when I wear road shoes on trail. Trail shoes feel fine on trail. Road shoes feel fine on road. Interesting.  The finish line is on a hill, and it took all the strength I had left to make it up that hill without walking.

All in all a good, really pretty trail. Great race. Fed well post. Got kinda a crappy massage. Most races near large urban centres offer massage post via students taking massage therapy. I have had actually good luck post race with massage, that day not so much.
Oh my finish time was 5:50- which is sup 6hours so all good to me!

5th

 

The boy child turned 5 on September 28th. When asked he actually does not know when his birthday is but if you prompt him with 'SSSSSS', he gets it. We know perhaps he will not be admitted to Harvard early admission. Perhaps regular is still a possibility at this point. 

As the second child has never had a party, it was high time we celebrated his day. Six little boys came for a early evening games and hamburger extravaganza. There was some discussion on serving sushi, but Ever conceded that perhaps it wasn't the best choice as not every five year old is adventurous in their eating as he his.

 

Every good mother makes their child a homemade cake. Seriously. I don't care if it from a mix. Make the effort. If you have a loving friend or close family member willing to make a fancy cake for your child, that is agreeable in the book of Anne but ONLY if it is done on a free basis. It must be done as a act of love, if any money changes hands then it is prohibited. Sorry, that is how it is written.

Back to the boy, Ever really likes snails, and spends a large amount of time hunting for them. We have several living in his room in an unofficial way. Thus,  a snail cake.

 

Ever's only present was a World Industries skate board. Only the best for my only boy. We have not had a visit to the ER as a result, which a victory.

 

 

Luke was not a good parent, and will be suitably judged as he did not loving craft a pinata for the party. One was shamefully purchased and most liked crafted in China by poor children being feasted upon by rats.

In any event the act of smashing the pinata was great fun. Somebody recently referred to Ever as one big muscle, and I would tend to agree.

Democracy

Maya informed us that she voted today.

She knew she was voting for treasurer, vice president, and social convener. She wasn't so sure of what, nor what those positioned entailed.

As for who she voted for, as in the basis of democracy, she didn't know who the candidates were or whom she voted for.
There was no posters, no printed candidate profiles, or even assemblies introducing the candidates to the children.

And this is why I think public schools are breeding grounds for the development of compliant, conformist sheep and not goats.  (Sorry J)