This is always a good, and much needed, attitude adjustment for me every now and then!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
A tired weekend...
This weekend has been one of much physical labor...I think we are already wishing for a weekend to rest up from the weekend!! Of course who doesn't usually need that?
Friday I spent a chunk of the afternoon re-arranging the living room. We don't have curtains in the living room yet, which makes the very little time we do spend watching TV difficult due to the glare on the screen. So, I was able to arrange that to be in a corner and the couch to be facing the window-a nice view of the pond while reading a book and drinking morning coffee! Also...a little more 'child friendly'. Our computer was just a little too tempting for Gabbie to play with, so its now in a corner where the cords and outlets are out of reach. Saturday was spent weaning baby calves-always a fun job-and moving the remainder of the items from upstairs to the livestock trailer for temproary storage. Good thing we had a 3rd person to help. I handed the items out the window to Brice, who handed them down to his friend Brandon to load into the trailer. Somehow amongst the trim pieces, closets (everything is being saved to put back in later) there were also 3 bed frames and 3 or 4 matressess, which need to find homes before the mice use them as a home, and a few chairs. Other furniture is sitting in corners of the main floor, and memorabilia items went in places of the basement we are hoping water does not find. I have a problem with the cluttered look...I feel I did a good job this weekend of making lots of things look like they belong...
Doesn't it look like the middle of the dining room is a good place for these items? :-)
The tractor in the front yard seems normal after a messy winter and now house projects!
I do love our house, but I will be glad when we can spread out a little by using the upstairs. I am mostly looking forward to not having to tip-toe around while Gabbie is sleeping, maybe we'll be able to manage a consistent bedtime before 9:00pm and a happier child in the morning? Its worth a try!
We attended a couple graduations on Saturday night...Gabbie decided she was going to steal someone else's food. Guess we hadn't fed her enough?!
Sunday was a day of yardwork, and I was glad Brice did the majority of this today. He is much better with the lawn mowing and trimming than I am. I'm usually a little hesitant of hitting something. Gabbie and I spent some time in the garden-I don't have those pictures downloaded yet. I would go down a row with the hoe and she would follow next to me! I lost a few onions in the process, but I'm not going to scold someone who likes hanging out in a garden with me.
I was also able to get a long run in thanks to Brice's mom watching Gabbie. I think it was a little over 9 miles. Its been difficult to stick with the training for the upcoming Dam to Dam with my knee pain and our crazy schedule and the windy conditions making running with the stroller difficult. So today was a good confidence builder, as I even did it non-stop. Those long runs are good for gathering and organizing thoughts, relaxing, and coming home a happier and better Mommy and wife! It would probably be easier to just drink a few glasses of wine, but so far the running mode seems healthier.
Here's to a great upcoming week, continued progress in the field, and a continued safe and healthy Spring!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
My first ever Triathlon
Hooray! I've always wanted to try a triathlon, but I also thought it would be one of those things I would talk about and never do. A couple months ago the opportunity came up-a local one with shorter distances (a "spring triathlon"). It consisted of a 300 yard swim (6 laps), 25 K bike (15.5 miles), and a 5K run (3.1 miles). The day started out a little rocky...on the drive up there I came upon a detour which took an extra 20 minutes or so, then the anxiety kicked in of realizing I had no clue what I was doing. Where do I start? Where do I put my bike? Just how in the heck does this all work?
I do not have any fun pictures to post, as I usually go to these 'events' (runs, etc) on my own and selfishly call them my "Melanie days". I jam out to 80's and 90's hits in the car during the drive, usually find a place to do a little shopping, then head home exhausted and refreshed at the same time. So, no one along to take pics. Anyway, the swim was indoors with a 'staggered' sort of start, everyone had their own start time based on the time we had turned in for the swim. Slower people went first-so, based on that I was 3rd in line of 250 or so participants! I've always been a slow swimmer, no surprize to me.
The swim went great and I was slightly impressed with myself. After that we ran outside a bit, then into a gym. Something weird about running outside in my swimsuit on a windy day, but at least I looked like an idiot with everyone else and not alone. Since I've basically lost any competitive drive I ever may have had, I chatted with someone who was waiting their turn for the swim while I prepared myself to get on my bike. Everyone else was hustling, even jogging with their bikes out the door. I was thinking to myself "if these people were 40-50 years older I would have so much business...I was also thinking about how totally inexperienced I must have looked. Everyone had tools near their bikes to make any repairs needed. I was just glad I'd remembered the required helmet!
I thought the bike would be the easy part, though I have not been doing much bike riding. Here is how the bike went (it was very windy this morning):
Miles 1-6: Wow, what a beautiful day for a ride! The countryside here is so pretty, good temperatures, won't be long and I'll be running.
Mile 7: Oh...we've been with the wind this whole time, and the course is out and back...this isn't looking so great....I wish I had my I-pod...
Mile 8: Do I have to turn around!?! Okay, you can do this...you used to run further than this bike ride amounts to, c'mon old lady...
Mile 9: There sure are a lot of cattle around here...there are a lot of bales sitting there...maybe if I hadn't broken the baler last year we would have had more too...maybe I can time another maternity leave for the fall so I can be home to help with that this year...no...too late...
Mile 10: Seriously that has to be the 20th person who has passed me....what is with the skinny bike tires? Maybe that's my problem....wrong kind of bike...
Mile 11: I still wish I had my I-pod...
Mile 12: How can my body be cold from being damp, but my legs are on fire? Seriously burning...
Mile 13: Okay...there is a sherriff at the next intersection...if I just explain to him that I just can't finish this...will he be mad at me for doing this while not being in shape for it, or will I get a ride back to town?
Mile 14: 3 numb toes on the left...haven't had that since my epidural while in labor, and I'm starting to think that was easier...way easier...
Mile 15: Okay-this is the part I've been waiting for....I can get off this bike and run!
So...turns out the bike ride was hard, but I found the transition from sitting on my behind bent over for that long to upright running was even tougher. Here's how the run went:
Mile 1: Forget form...just do what you gotta do and don't stop...
Miles 2 & 3: Awesome :) Runners high....this is something I actually know how to do, and feel comfortable with...
Overall this was a great experience. I need to step out of my comfort zone once in awhile and try something new. The wind was hard to deal with on the bike-never felt like I had that much trouble even on Ragbraii. Its always so amazing how everyone cheers each other on and plugs away to the finish, and all the volunteers that go into running such an event is huge-they were all great :)
The other great part-I was close to Sioux City, so why not do a little shopping? 2 or 3 stores and I was so tired-just did enough to get upcoming shower, wedding, and graduation gifts. I was most disappointed in my poor endurance for shopping today!
The best part-coming home to my favorite 18 month old just as she woke from a nap :) Now its time for me to try again to go to sleep...the leg discomfort and feeling of excitement both seem to be keeping me awake tonight (and my online search for another triathlon)!
I do not have any fun pictures to post, as I usually go to these 'events' (runs, etc) on my own and selfishly call them my "Melanie days". I jam out to 80's and 90's hits in the car during the drive, usually find a place to do a little shopping, then head home exhausted and refreshed at the same time. So, no one along to take pics. Anyway, the swim was indoors with a 'staggered' sort of start, everyone had their own start time based on the time we had turned in for the swim. Slower people went first-so, based on that I was 3rd in line of 250 or so participants! I've always been a slow swimmer, no surprize to me.
The swim went great and I was slightly impressed with myself. After that we ran outside a bit, then into a gym. Something weird about running outside in my swimsuit on a windy day, but at least I looked like an idiot with everyone else and not alone. Since I've basically lost any competitive drive I ever may have had, I chatted with someone who was waiting their turn for the swim while I prepared myself to get on my bike. Everyone else was hustling, even jogging with their bikes out the door. I was thinking to myself "if these people were 40-50 years older I would have so much business...I was also thinking about how totally inexperienced I must have looked. Everyone had tools near their bikes to make any repairs needed. I was just glad I'd remembered the required helmet!
I thought the bike would be the easy part, though I have not been doing much bike riding. Here is how the bike went (it was very windy this morning):
Miles 1-6: Wow, what a beautiful day for a ride! The countryside here is so pretty, good temperatures, won't be long and I'll be running.
Mile 7: Oh...we've been with the wind this whole time, and the course is out and back...this isn't looking so great....I wish I had my I-pod...
Mile 8: Do I have to turn around!?! Okay, you can do this...you used to run further than this bike ride amounts to, c'mon old lady...
Mile 9: There sure are a lot of cattle around here...there are a lot of bales sitting there...maybe if I hadn't broken the baler last year we would have had more too...maybe I can time another maternity leave for the fall so I can be home to help with that this year...no...too late...
Mile 10: Seriously that has to be the 20th person who has passed me....what is with the skinny bike tires? Maybe that's my problem....wrong kind of bike...
Mile 11: I still wish I had my I-pod...
Mile 12: How can my body be cold from being damp, but my legs are on fire? Seriously burning...
Mile 13: Okay...there is a sherriff at the next intersection...if I just explain to him that I just can't finish this...will he be mad at me for doing this while not being in shape for it, or will I get a ride back to town?
Mile 14: 3 numb toes on the left...haven't had that since my epidural while in labor, and I'm starting to think that was easier...way easier...
Mile 15: Okay-this is the part I've been waiting for....I can get off this bike and run!
So...turns out the bike ride was hard, but I found the transition from sitting on my behind bent over for that long to upright running was even tougher. Here's how the run went:
Mile 1: Forget form...just do what you gotta do and don't stop...
Miles 2 & 3: Awesome :) Runners high....this is something I actually know how to do, and feel comfortable with...
Overall this was a great experience. I need to step out of my comfort zone once in awhile and try something new. The wind was hard to deal with on the bike-never felt like I had that much trouble even on Ragbraii. Its always so amazing how everyone cheers each other on and plugs away to the finish, and all the volunteers that go into running such an event is huge-they were all great :)
The other great part-I was close to Sioux City, so why not do a little shopping? 2 or 3 stores and I was so tired-just did enough to get upcoming shower, wedding, and graduation gifts. I was most disappointed in my poor endurance for shopping today!
The best part-coming home to my favorite 18 month old just as she woke from a nap :) Now its time for me to try again to go to sleep...the leg discomfort and feeling of excitement both seem to be keeping me awake tonight (and my online search for another triathlon)!
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