Internet Awesomeness

When I am working lots, which I have been lately I get really lazy and end up having a love affair with videos. Thus, I bring you favorites.


Miranda Sings...
Youtube vblogger turned internet mainstream via an appearance on Coffee in cars with comedians, or whatever Jerry Seinfeld current gig is called.

High Maintenance
A vimino series that I marathoned through in a morning. Heard about it on the CBC.

NFIM

 

 

This photo is now on my fridge. This photo will remind me on a daily basis until the ironman that you have to work hard for what you want and nothing replaces proper training. It will remind me that I am over just showing up to finish, I want to do better than that. It will remind me of bad it hurts to fail.

 

My motivation to complete the Niagara falls marathon was basically my friends. I am always sad when they go out for training runs with out me, and when they go away to races and have a good time I am devastated. I just do want to miss any of the good times. Everybody was going, one of my friends was trying for her Boston time, there is the appeal of crossing the peace bridge, and it is a flat course so I signed up. My training volume was not the worst, and there was cross training in the form of swim/ bike  but what I see of the meat and potatoes of successful marathon running is the long runs and  just wasn't there. I have reviewed marathon training plans and I was at 50-60% distance volume I should have been.

 

In summery I had one run of 33k, one 28K, one 25K and several around 18-22 leading up to the race. Some might feel that is adequate preparation, and for them perhaps it is good. I just can not pull it off.

 

Race started in Buffalo, around 6k of turn of the century  tree line streets. Very nice. Crossed the bridge with quite a wind. Was running with a friend intermittently. Went pee at the first porta potty I  saw around 10kish. Started to hurt around 15k. Held onto a 5:10ish pace for the first half in 1:49ish. . Was fueling really well. Salt tabs taken. Felt like I had energy but my legs just hurt so bad and they kept slowing down. When the 3:45 pace bunny passed me and there was no chance of hanging with, the only goal I had was to get to the end. I made a deal with myself that I could walk all aid stations with water and for a little break every two songs. Well wouldn't you know there wasn't enough water stations. At the top of the hill before the finish I saw Luke and was just sad at my state, stopped and walked with him for a bit. He offered to run with me in, but I hate how that looks so I kept on going. Saw some friends and completely stopped again, only kept going cause they told me to.  Slowly ran the finish shoot, marvelling  at my personal worseness. Realising that this was my worst death march... and vowed never again will I just come to do the distance cause it sucks.

 

 

 

 

No Winter Maintenance

 

Now that summer has passed and some time has passed to allow for healing, I can share this adventure from summer.

 

On a fine day, I thought it would be a marvellous idea to take the children to Metcalfe rock to hike and play on the rocks. I also think it is rather marvellous to take a new way every time I go somewhere, you never know what adventures may come.

 

Thus, on Grey road 13 I turned left. I was looking at a several editions old copy of the Bruce trail map and google maps on my phone. I knew  I had to head north- west and I would get there eventually. If a road looked interesting I went that way. Eventually I landed on a no winter maintenance road and I thought what fun! The road was rough, but not bad. However,  it just started getting worse. The puddles were getting bigger and bigger, and I realised I could not turn around, and I really didn't want to drive through what I had already driven though again. The hope was it would get better.

 

It didn't.

 

Then I hit the puddle, and got though it, well just to the edge and the car stalled. I had flooded the engine.

 

I didn't want to call Luke right away, I thought we would wait 20minites and try the car again. Meanwhile the children played with frogs and played in the forest. Silently I am freaking out with my mind going 10, 00miles of possibilities.

 

The 20minites did not help. Car would not start. Call Luke and admit I have done a very bad thing.

What follows is three hours of getting a CAA membership on my rapidly declining cell phone, and figuring out exactly where I was only to realise I WAS NOT ON A ROAD!

 

Apparently, I had gone off the no winter maintenance road to a snowmobile trail. No warning, no nothing. Thing is, CAA only responds to calls on roads. So I was kind of in the middle of no where with very happy and agreeable Ever and whining/ complaining Maya. Sure we could walk out of there but what about the car. Leave it for deer hunters??

 

Meanwhile, all afternoon in between my mental breakdowns and fits of crying we had been working. In the forest we had found three landscaping buckets, you know with the holes in them. We spent hours bailing out that puddle, it had actually been to the height of the grass. Head to toe we were covered in mud when a bearded man on a ATV found us.

 

He told me how you are not suppose to drive this way cause it is a swap. How when he was a teenager it was a corduroy road  and on the weekends he would drive home from Collingwood this way but big trucks mudding had wreaked the road, and he told me he could get the car out of the puddle. I had never prayed so hard as when he made several attempts to get the engine started. I had never cheered so loud when he got through the puddle. I cried and hugged him freely. Which to those who know me is very rare. I offered him any amount of money he wanted. He refused, but I got his name and when I made it back to town I bought a case of beer cause that is what he drinks and made sure he would get it.

 

Lesson learned: You have to drive slowly though water, and maybe the road well travelled is Ok sometimes.

 

Barrelman

I am sure what made me sign up for Barrelman. The concept of the locale, the flat roads, the chance to do another build for the big build of 2015? Regardless, I signed up and did not prepare to race it. Mentally, I prepared like I was going into to do a sprint tri, or a little 5k. Six hours racing just does not compare. It hurts a tremendous amount more.

The race has two transitions, and we had to rack and register the day prior in Welland. Nice touch having my name on the wrist band. Interesting touch that nobody actually checked my photo ID. Shirt was ugly so didn't bother trying to change it for one that fit. Lesson learned: I hate women's cut shirts. Scoop neck shirts make me look like I am a waitress fishing for tips. 

The day dawned dark with rain clouds forming. Caught a ride  with friends from our hotel to the buses that transported people from T2 to the swim start. If they had not been coming Luke would have had to get up at 6am to take me. Unfortunately a logistical problem is the buses leave from a parking lot that is not within walking distance from downtown, which if you are coming with family who expect a lie in on a Sunday morning is rather inconvenient. A taxi may be in order. My usual routine of running my coffee purchased the night before though the coffee maker and eating cold porridge out of a zip lock bag was employed on the bus ride over. Got off the bus and it was pouring rain. Hid out in the arena for awhile. Rain let off and got my bike and all my bags ready. Went back into the arena for some morning business and chats with internet friends, and finally made my way down to the water.
Had some hopes that current assisted swim would magically make for a fast swim. But I always suck at swimming apparently. 44: and change. Got a bit choppy toward the end and it started to rain. Was thinking, 'great here is the rain'. Was prepared to spend the entire day wet as the forecast was not looking nice. I didn't care. Meant I didn't have to worry about sun screen.


The transition zone was wedged between the Welland arena another building. Felt clausiphobic. There was a rather large parking lot beside the water at a community wellness centre, not sure why they could not support a active activity and let us use the parking lot?
As soon as I got out of the water I started running, though my transition was pretty OK. I did put on socks but really 4 mins?? I didn't stop for tea so have no idea why so slow.

So I didn't exactly train for the bike. I mean. I may have last biked 90k at Tremblant. I had maybe three rides over 50k since then. But really it was a flat course, couldn't be any worse then my 20k ride into work right??? So wrong. There was a wind. Sure the tail wind was tremendous, but the cross and head winds were so much work. I honestly thought I would blow off the road at times. It was the windiest riding I have ever done. Oh and I had sprained my ankle again on the Monday prior and actually got a bit of whip lash to my neck which also caused some tension to my head so for three hours I had a pounding headache.  Never so happy to get out of aero when it was done. The course was pretty enough. A section beside Lake Erie, crossing bridges, and riding under the Welland canal was very cool. I actually pushed that bike as hard as I could that day, happy to say my split was 3:07 for 92k. An added bonus was the sun came out.

On to the run. Some spectator guy was waiting to get into the port a loo outside of transition, and I just ran right in. I counted, I was less then 20sec. but a slight dick move. I just really had to pee and I did not want a repeat of every other race with the worlds worst chaffing.
The run course was very challenging. Some nice sections intermingled with urban, full sun. The back end was just kind depressing. Some long suffering uphill's. There was lots of volunteers and police presence but in general did not actually notice anybody spectating near the falls. Enough aid stations.
I had hoped to go sub 1:50 off the bike which I know I have in me, but ended the day with 1:56. On the first lap I just felt sorry for myself. My head was pounding to the extent I may have cursed at a medic for not having Tylenol. It was no electrolyte problem- I just had tension. I just could not find that happy place. Found my family towards the end of the first lap and saw some friend which helped. Worked hard to catch up to my friend Dave. I had really hoped we could run it in together but it just was not his day. Post race I diagnosed an allergy to honey on him. Due to the lack of  spectators just found the day quiet. The aid stations did not even have music. I was even hoping for Christian music at the aid station on the grounds of a monastery, all I had was the pounding of my head to keep me company. Found it frustrating not knowing which runners were on their first or second lap of the 10k course. Also found it frustrating watching people cheat on an out and back section.

 

Completed in 5:55, which is ok. Could I have done better with proper training and a better mental attitude, yes.

 

Oh and this is why you are always  nice to front desk clerks- best rooms with a view.

 

On another note, Luke and the kids had brought bikes in anticipation of paid parking and thought it would be simplest just to park once and ride around and to the race site from there. We are actually not sure how any family made it to Kingsbridge park as the roads were all closed leading to it.

 

 

Against

The utmost of my wrath was once directed towards plastic bags. Now it seems most people unless they are selfish, self centred individuals realise the use of bags is wrong and opt for a  reusable bag or box. Or is they carried said items up to the cashier, then maybe they can carry their purchases home.

Now my wrath is directed towards receipts.

I do not want them. They are useless pieces of paper. Why in the world would I want to scrap of paper that proves I just spent $48 at the liquor store. If I can not remember the figure to add to my most important personal budget database then I think I have got other things to be worried about.

Waste of trees. Waste of my money to dispose of them in paid garbage removal. I would use the scraps of paper as toilet paper but apparently there are some risks of BPA exposure to skin.

I really do not care about proof of purchase as every store has security cameras, and while to are at it, I refuse those stupid stickers cashers put on toilet paper.

Basically, I make cashiers cry.

Mt Tremblant 70.3

You know sometimes when you are by yourself and you have all those funny little thoughts and wish you could somehow remember them all so you could share them in a cool blog post, yah that.

Last year in August somebody had the bright idea to sign up for Mt Tremblant  70.3. We all assumed it would sell out quickly, which it did. Thus at that point I was signed up for two half ironmans without even ever done one.
Luke and I made the trip to Quebec solo, as in without the children. Initially we were going to stay at a strangers house but when we realised  that the logistics of getting to the race site was going to be complicated and so we ended up splitting the cost of a condo on site with friends. I say on site loosely as it was .750k away from the village and it was straight uphill and .75 of a kilometer is rather long when you have a ankle that looks like a sausage. More on that later.

 Was rather excited to get this race number, was rather disgusted in the lack of Canadian history people seem to have. 1867 was the year of Canadian confederation for the people who I am disgusted with.

 

Training went resonablly well. Felt very compressed as long bike training did not start until May as winter dragged on and on in Bruce County. And then there was my run. As in I basically had not ran in a month. After the sprain in May, I basically desided that I didn't need to run train as I didn't want to damage my ankle further. There are somethings I just am good at, and running is one of them. So I felt my ankle was better and was going to do a light jog the Monday prior at Allan park.

 

Fail. 100metres in and I was on the ground again.

 

At that point there was nothing I could do. I iced for 6hours post as that is the current research. I did my best to stay off of it except for work and figured I would be walking the 21k. The swelling was horrid, and bruising worse. Pain- not so much. It just felt unstable.  I think mentally I was in a worst place then my ankle. I just felt defeated.

 

 

 

Mt Tremblant definitely had the triathlon hype going on. The place was buzzing. Everywhere within a 50km radius seemed to be intent on making triathletes welcome. The place is host to four races this year so I am not surprised. I did the check in on Friday night which seemed to be the best time. No wait at all. Bought a long sleeve shirt, sticker, and traditional water bottle at the store. Really wanted a tri top but practiced restraint.

Race morning was just stupid o'clock. Transition closed at 6:30am, my wave wasn't until 7:48. So basically I did nothing from 6:15- 7:20 but sit and stew about my ankle. Sure I got body marked, but really why do I need a volunteer to do that?  Next race I am bringing a sharpie and marking myself. The guy didn't even listen to me when I said to put my marking on my right leg as I would be wearing a compression sock on my left. He could have even put it higher on my leg. I mean I am not in the running for any age group awards but I like looking at other peoples ages so why should others not be able to see mine?

Prior to the swim start found a nice quiet area to get my wetsuit on, except I couldn't. I had to pee so bad and the line for the porta potties was too long, and I kinda wanted to pee in the water once I started so I was saving it,  but I couldn't wait. So I had to tell the other people in my nice quiet area that I had to pee on the grass, so they said in broken English, ' so we should turn away?' But I was already peeing.
Good thing the race had not started cause that was an automatic DQ.
Lined up to start the swim and saw a women was a bandaged ankle. We shared sad injury stories and suddenly I felt better about my ankle knowing that there was somebody else in my situation.
Started on the far left with the intent on staying there. Well my sighting has been getting better, but not that good. I was all over the place, and once the other waves started passing me I felt like I was in a over stuffed washing machine. It was one of the roughest swims I had ever been in. At one point somebody was pushing off on my chest with their feet. I swim that slow I am like a wall. Joy.
Honestly, I thought I was swimming well, when I looked around I was with the same colour cap as myself, and there was even times when I got into a rythum. In reaility I was slower than Musokoa. Another nice thing about Tremblant was the red carpet from the swim exsist to tranition. I avoided the strippers as I didn't want anybody near my ankle and at muskoka I found it to be a confusing affair. I can strip myself. Took the time in transition to put on arm warmers, and one left sided compression sock. Sang along to the music playing and noticed that the pros didn't wait for me. Bummer.

 

 

Out onto the bike, which was wonderful. Never realized how much traffic can cause stress while racing until there is none. Wide open highways with smooth as butter pavement. The only rough section was in the town. Even then was not bad. That being said. I lost two water bottles on bridge bumps from my read saddle holder. Mostly pleased with my ride. I say mostly except for two points.

1. Uphills, My triathlon bike does not climb well. I run out of granny gears. My road has three in the front, this bike has two and it is a standard crank. So either I need to learn to climb better with what I have or get a compact which seems to be all the rage. Mostly I climbed at 11km/hr cadence in 50s. That is not fun.

2. Downhills. I am scared of going over 55km/hr.  Alot of free time is lost with my fear. All I can think about is road rash and fractured pelvises and rib fractures punctured lungs, and cracked helmets and mushy brains.

 

Had a good time talking with a few other women. Playing leap frog. It was a beautiful day and there was little wind. Really nice to be out there. The only section I didn't like was the going out of the rollers section. I just could not get my gearing right and those short uphills were killer. A woman remarked to make that I had a lot of joy, and I really did. It was a wonderful ride with mild wind. I have having a nice weekend with Luke, and it occurred to me that really my ankle was such a first word problem.

The entire ride I was slightly concerned that something would happen and I would have to unclip, except with my ankle I could not, at all. I even tried. Just could not do it. So obviously my shoes stayed off my bike while I did a nice dismount. Transition was reasonably quick. Arm warmers off, bib on, dose of toradol for my ankle,  shoes on and go. For the record. I always sit on the ground.

 

On Saturday I had previewed the run course on my bike. So I knew that it was very do-able. Basically an out and back. Hilly town section, flat trail section and back to the village via hills.

I had no expectations of the run. I expected to be walking if it was bad. I did carry for the entire run a soft compression ankle brace, and a rigid plastic brace so if my leg broke I would be ok to finish.

So I set off, started by walking  some of the down hills as the pavement impact was what I was expecting to hurt..... but well I was reasonably fine. I do have a really high pain tolerance- ie. two babies born at home in my bed. Some discomfort started at 7k, but very tolerable. Basically I didn't push, walked the aid stations and small portions of the hills, endured and finished. I love out and back with the opportunity to see friends, to cheer and try to calculate everybody's finishes. Dysfunctional mental math is what gets me through, that and my really bad singing. I was taking requests this race though. So many aid stations had music which was wonderful and really they had to be every kilometre.

Ankle pre- race.

 

The one thought that I had the entire race was.. 2015 double it??? And I think so.

Ménage à trois

I recently read that the most complicated of relationships is a threesome. There always tends to be a power struggle, and it occurs to me that I am in one.


Myself             My Bike               The Wind


Presently the wind is the dominant force in the relationship, the bike and I have discussed it and unless the wind agrees to always stay behind us, it simply is not welcome anymore.

Woodstock 2014

Ahead of Mt Tremblant 70.3 this year I felt it would be beneficial to do one triathlon, just to remind me of the 'process', and to scare me. It did.

Swim- 750 metres of pure terror. I like pool swimming, love open water. Put me in a triathlon swim and I become a panicking, hyperventilating mess. The water at Woodstock was cold, but once I got going, it didn't bother me at all. There is no focus and I basically can only go two rounds of 4 breaths without freaking out about everybody swimming so much faster then me. So I am doing my crappy front crawl with the person doing breast stroke. At one point, unconsciously when I stopped swimming to gather my courage to continue I said out- loud, 'I hate swimming'. Laughs had by all the people on their backs around me. Times like that I wonder why I even bother.

Bike- Was excited to try out new bike, but even though the course was easy just felt like I could never really open up. The course wasn't a pelition like Guelph lake last year, however I felt like my full potential was not realised.

Run- was reasonable, pushed. Back end on pavement kind a sucks but 5k just goes by so fast. Enough water stations for a warm day. Had fun except about 10metres from the finish line. A women in front of me looked to be about my age so I called out to her, asking if the age on her calf was 33 or 37. When she answered back 37, I responded ' Well you better get going as I am 36.' And she took off, She had more of a kick then me, and she did take off. While I was putting forth a valiant effort my left ankle encountered a root and I went all topsey - turvey. Did not fall but should have rather then try to recover and wrench my ankle in ways it was not meant to go. End result- no running for at least two weeks, very thick and swollen. Going to chiropractor, a lot.

So where does this leave me for Mt Tremblant?? Wanted a sub 6hours- will settle for sub 6:10, and even then I feel like I have done nothing to get me there. Best intentions do not always manifest themselves to show for anything,

Small

And now for some reader feedback... that is if I have any LOL.  What I want you to do is take a look at these three pictures and tell me which one represents a $160 FIST certified triathlon bike fit? For the real keeners out their you should know I need to switch out my 80mm stem for a 70mm as of yet.
Also the real keeners will note my bike is too big. About 2cm in reach length apparently. It was a concern when I bought it that it was slightly too big. The good thing is, all my angles are spot on, and I am making it work.
Big dance is Mt tremblant 70.3, and it currently occupies a lot of my thoughts as in:

• Now if I can take 5min off my swim, 3 min off my transitions, 10min off my bike time, and 2 min of my run time maybe I can get sub 6 hours.
• But what about if I have to go pee, how quick can I get off the bike and pee, what about lines at the port a pottys?
• I need a new matching outfit to match my bike.
• Convince Maya to use my old bike helmet so I can buy a new matching helmet.
• Will the water ever warm up so I can get open water swim training in?
• Will it ever stop being completely miserable outside so I can ride?
• What if I am developing a stress fracture in my femur like Krista Duchene?
• Maybe I am eating to much in training?
• Should I spend the extra $40 on a used carbon stem? Vs the $18 at MEC
• What about an aero bottle? Maybe I can mount a regular bottle holder with just zip ties.
• I should really learn how to change a tube quicker then 30min, Will have to carry iphone so I can watch a YouTube video for help.
• And it goes on and on, you would think this is Kona I am so excited.

Ms Seamstress

 

 

Today I played seamstress. I say played cause I am not actually one, I just like to pretend. Sometimes it turns out well, and other times not so much.

 

Exhibit A-  Leather dress. Well not real leather, but kinda like. A hand me down from a friend who lost weight, and a lot of it came from her boobs. No matter how much weight I loss, mine always remain. Dress fit great, except for the torso. Mine is short. So ripped out the shoulder seam, cut out some of the shoulder, redid the shoulder with gathers for the excess fabric, all good until time to deal with the excess trim. I accidently cut it where I should have not, not a lot of extra fabric and thus .. this. Can't win them all. Will have to wear my hair down if I ever find an occasion to wear the dress. Makes me wonder where she wore the dress.

Exhibit B:

 

Not sure where I bought this used French collection XL shirt. Really liked the pattern, and thought it mostly fit. Not so much. Realised it was way to baggy  and was going to donate it when it dawned on me I could just take it in on the sides. So I did and now it looks fabulous. Luke photobombed my shot so he could show off his beard so show how hip he is. Mostly it is just grey to me.

 

Atb 30k 2014

Going into Around the Bay, was not feeling overly optimistic. Training was far from ideal in grey/ Bruce counties this year, not a lot of time to train with family commitments.... and both are poor excesses.

 

I am the queen of no excesses police. You can always make time, and I do own a treadmill. However I just was not in the right head space to do this winter. Happens.

What I have been doing is a lot for more core work, and frankly I think it made a difference. Not a lot of long runs in, but I still felt strong.

 

Basic plan was to stick with my friend Matt at the beginning so I wouldn't go out to fast, which I am rather fond of doing, and stick with him until I couldn't any more. Just run by feel.  He was much more motivated than I to follow a race plan. So I just hung out with him and another guy from our triathlon club. When he geled so did I. We took turns setting the pace. I mostly said, 'is it necessary for us to be doing a 4:45 pace.' Hung around a 5:05 pace mostly. At around 20k we met up with a friend who had done the 15k relay and wanted to run the rest of distance in cause it was such a nice day. Her and I chatted for a bit then she decided to walk a bit. Meanwhile, my buddy had fallen off pace or I had been going ahead of pace and I was all alone. Had a singular dance and song party. Ran/ walked up the big hill, looked for Matt again, figuring he would be right behind and realised I would have to take myself to the finish line.

 

At that point, I think it is 27k. I was done. I knew I only had 15 or so minutes left but my:

-bra strap was chaffing

-had to pee

-right quad hurt

-worried I was getting a sun burn

- was thinking about other friends and wanted to find out how they were doing.

 

Pace varied widely here. Put that Happy song on repeat and just pushed it on. Finished in 2:34:40, which isn't bad, considering, but I will never be happy.

 

2014-2:34:40- Whatever

2013-2:38:42- Ran with a friend.
2012- 2:54:51- Paced a friend to sub three.
2011- 2:25:20- Raced.
2010- 2:37:04- Tried to race- crashed.
2009- 2:31:27- First timers luck.

 

 

This really hurt, had to pop. I wore toe sock and lubed my feet so I am rather upset about this state of affairs.

Argon18

For the last couple years I have felt like I am putting a ton of work into the bike, but my return has been minimal. Nothing I could do on my road bike could help me get faster. Sure the common saying is it is not the bike but the engine, but I say the engine is working fine but you can only push that civic so fast.

My 1.5 year plan is an ironman distance 2015, and in an ironman you ride for 180km. That is a long way to feel that you are working way to hard. I want every advantage I can get. Hence, it was decided I needed to pay for some speed.

 

I have always said I wanted used. There is nothing wrong with a used bike that has been maintained. So for the last six months I have looked regularly on kijiji. Pink bike, slow twitch, and word of mouth that I was looking. Only one bike really piped my interest and overall, after consultation with people more knowledgeable than I,  I felt it was over prised.

 

Thus, the Toronto bike show. Friends went on Friday and Saturday and basically told me I would be crazy not to go. Very good deals in my price range.

The thing about the bike show is, for some venders, it is basically a flea market. Bike stores come with last years or even older stock with the hope of unloading it for any sort of a profit. Thus the best time for a deal is Sunday afternoon.

I had done some calls ahead, knew what some stores where bringing, and zeroed in one them. I had no shame is saying what my budget was and no shame in saying exactly what I had to get out of that money. I know how to bargain well, and I knew exactly the MSRP was for most bikes I was looking at. Most important, I wasn't afraid to drive home with nothing.

 

Then I saw this bike and I feel in love. Matte black. I LOVE matte black. I repanted Evers bike matte black. The sales person was a very nice soft spoken fellow, and his boss was willing to haggle. I thought about every angle for a price reduction, and I was signigicantlly under budget. At the cash register, just to be a jerk, after I had paid I asked if I could have haggled for any lower, and I was told he lost $150 on the bike. So I think I am good.

 

The one thing that is not good is the bike fit. Part of my haggling was about the bike fit. I saved mucho money from not getting it from that bike shop. It is in downtown Toronto, so the trouble of getting down there and paying for parking just wasn't worth it. I have been fiddling at home with it since I bought it and with likely go someplace a tad easier to get to in the next couple of weeks.

 

The thing is I have always admired Argon 18 bikes since I saw Bree Wee ride one years ago, I have a minor girl crush on her. Canadian company. But mostly I bought it for the matte black. I buy shoes on appearance also.

 

I have been riding it on the trainer and find it so smooth as comparied to my roadie. As this is the winter from hell it will be May before I ride it out of doors.

Refashioned tights

One of my the blogs I follow  is ReFashionista. The blogs author takes thrift store rejects and re-fashions them into like real wearable items. An inspiration, if only I had her creativity.
This is a simple re-fashion. Yoga tights that un-fashionably flared at the bottom copied to be like my Lulus. Obviously they are not the same as they are not cut the same but for around the house they are getting way more wear then wide legs.

2013 in Books

As with everything sometimes I read more and sometimes I read less. Lately I have been starting books and realising that life is to short to read something that does not bring joy, or I feel that in my limited English skills I could write better. I continue to use Good reads... most of the time, thus this list does not reflect all I have read over the year.

Ella Enchanted

by Gail Carson Levine

Delightful little fairytale.

The Imposter Bride

by Nancy Richler

Nice Canadian novel, set in the 1950 through present. Was angry about the lack of communication between characters, off course if the record could have set straight at the very beginning there would have been no story.

 

We Were the Mulvaneys

by Joyce Carol Oates

I finally got around to reading this modern day classic, it was a good story. Rather depressing, although I did feel the end was worth it. one particular line will always stay with me. Went something like '.....did you not realise that because of you all of our lives changed forever.' That one line was the point of the book.

Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality

by Jacob Tomsky

Heard a interview on the CBC with the author and would you not know it, it was at library that same day! Basically the point is how to score a hotel deal. Interesting.

 

Freshman: Tales of 9th Grade Obsessions, Revelations, and Other Nonsense

by Corinne Mucha

The library has really taken to  graphic novels, I benefit from their awesomeness.

 

The Promise of Stardust

by Priscille Sibley

Medical ethical dilemma, family history etc. Worth the read.

 

On the Island

by Tracey Garvis-Graves

Surprisingly good, and riveting. Unexpected considering the cover design was poor in my opinion. In reviewing my good reads list I see there is more to the story so will have to get the library to order it in for me.

 

 

The Next Day: A Graphic Novella

by Jason Gilmore,

Graphic novel about people who decide to commit suicide then don't.

 

Perdita

by Hilary Scharper

Novel based on the Bruce peninsula. Wasn't sure what to make of it, felt like there was just so many details that were unnecessary to the core story which just acted to make the plot line all fuzzy. Thought I was alone in my thoughts then I read a review by Andrew Armitage in the Sun times and he thought the same. Made me feel better.

Revenge of the Tide

by Elizabeth Haynes

British crime fiction. Completely forgettable.

 

The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope

by Rhonda Riley

Wonderfulness. Fantasy set in reality. Did not want the story to end. Loved it.

 

Rapture Practice

by Aaron Hartzler

Little gay boy grows up in conservative Christian home, a memoir. Again heard the author on the CBC. Felt really bad for his father now showing his face in public.

 

 

Golden Boy

by Abigail Tarttelin

Ambiguous genitalia  in the everyday life of a teenager. Enjoyed.

 

The Smart One

by Jennifer Close

I think I liked it, but I can't really remember it, but I could have been drinking.

 

Girls in White Dresses

by Jennifer Close

Picked it out cause I liked the cover art. That is very important to me. It was funny. Can't recall the ending, sure it was a quick read.

 

The Silver Linings Playbook

by Matthew Quick

A novel that that has been made into a movie, you never know what to expect. Twas good. My favorite character was the therapist.

S.E.C.R.E.T. 

by L. Marie Adeline

The 'new 49 shades of grey'.(Have not read it cause I heard the writing was soo poor and it moved sooo slow)  Read about it MacLean's magazine. The library had it. For a sex book I don't think I should have laughed so much.

Between the Lines

by Jodi Picoult

Cute little mother daughter produced  fairy tale bought at Walmart in a fit of depression, Think I have already gotten rid of it.

Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse #13)

by Charlaine Harris

The sadness of a much loved series ending. Although, with this authors writings you never know where characters will show up.

Calling Invisible Women

by Jeanne Ray

More fantasy set in reality. Hilarious novel about waking one day to find you have become invisible but your family fails to notice.

All the Summer Girls

by Meg Donohue

Fefinitely drinking  while reading.

 

Crazy Rich Asians

by Kevin Kwan

Very interesting read about how I will never live, especially since my lottery numbers never seem to be the right ones.

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen

by Lucy Knisley

Graphic novel that seems to keep on being checked out by Maya again and again. It is about food.

 The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls

by Anton DiSclafani

I think that you are a little girl who is GaGa about horses or could care a less. I am the later and this book is for the former.

 

Daisy Kutter: The Last Train

by Kazu Kibuishi

A graphic novel that is almost anime in appearance- which I hate so slightly surprising it came home with me. Strong female lead.

 

Smile (Smile #1)

by Raina Telgemeier

BRaces drauma in teen years. Graphic novel

 

Forever, Interrupted

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Nothing like a novel where a husband dies to make you cry.

 

Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas

by Jim Ottaviani

Sounds intelligent, was a graphic novel.

 

Lets Explore Diabetes with Owls

by David Sedaris

He has written much better, I wonder if he had to produce a book for his contract and this is what he came up with. Only a couple funny stories.

 

 

 

Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising Series 

by Kelly Armstrong

Children breed to have superpowers, I am still waiting for mine so while I wait I read fiction.

 

The Jane Austen Marriage Manual

by Kim Izzo

An American chick lit novel that reads like a British one. Ending obvious from the start.

 

A Rural Affair

by Catherine Alliott

British chick lit about fantasying your husband dies and then he actually does. Opps

Baby Boy Blizzard

 

Well the worst happened.

 

In the small hospital I work at , there is a time I dread like no other. A snow storm. A snow storm when the roads are closed and we are shut off from the outside world. When help can not reach us nor can we go for help. This means that the staff that are in the building at it, no call ins. This means that we can not send patients out to larger centres who require medical interventions we can not do.

Thus we are, and what we have on hand is it.

 

It is a fine balance. Extensive training for a medical event that you nay never see? The cost of supplies that may never be used?

 

During this past weeks blizzard. All the roads were shut down, plows were pulled and all was quiet. Until the dispatch phone rang. There was a woman in labour outside of town. The ambulance just couldn't get to another hospital, they barely made it to the patient,  the woman have to come here.

I am the ER nurse and thus she would be my responsibly. I had recently been re-certified in Neonatal Resuscitation, and attend an obstetrical  skills day every couple years. However, the last birth I attended was when I delivered Ever. I had never witnessed labour and delivery nursing care as I had the midwives attend my children's births. The physician I was working with had not done any obstetrical care in years and the other nurse was ruster than I...... and that was our medical team.

 

I am the first to say that a normal vaginal birth in a low risk woman is not a medical event. However, the unexpected can occur, and at that point the training of the team of midwives/ nurses/ physicians who have training comes into play. At this low risk delivery the unexpected could not happen.

 

The woman laboured without pain medical as we could not take the risk of any complications related. She laboured as the winds blew and snow kept on falling down. I, along the the physician had been reading topics obstetrical  all night in preparation About five in the morning she was getting tired. She wasn't progressing. I was getting worried. So I got her up 'to use the commode'. Really I just wanted her to start contracting while standing and let gravity to do some work. Within a minute, she yelled the baby was coming. My ungloved hand reached down and felt head and I screamed for help. The babe was born a few pushes later, with an  immeaditite cry, and honestly I do not know who was more overjoyed the parents or I.