Last night I had my first tri training session with TriMommy. TM ROCKS!!
The first thing I noticed before we even got in the pool was how comfortable she was about her body and being in a swim suit. Don't get me wrong, she's quite an accomplished athlete, but she's not one of those rail-thin, oh-my-god-please-eat-something kinda gals. And I admire that. And her being relaxed about the whole situation made me relaxed (ok, maybe I wasn't exactly "relaxed"...) or at least not as self-conscious as I would have been had I gone to the pool by myself.
And it occurred to me that I also forgot the about "The Locker Room". I forgot the "locker room" mentality that accompanies a gym. I realized this most severely when I got out of the shower after my lesson all decked out with my towel wrapped myself, trying to get a dry pair of undies on my still-slightly-damp body all the while taking great pains not to accidentally drop my towel from around myself. Geesh!!!
When did I become so modest??
So I did as the "natives" and just forwent (is that a word??) the towel and just got dressed.
We all have the same parts and pieces, right??
And the truth is I remember being a little kid in the locker room and seeing all the naked "old" women. The ones that had shucked modesty to the wind. Thinking "why do all the old women walk around naked?!?!?! Why don't they care?!?!?"
Yeah, well, I'm one of those "old" women now. As a kid I thought anyone out of high school was "old".... that's not entirely true... any woman that had mostly completed puberty was "old". I didn't know any better! Well now I know. 'Cuz it's too frickin' hard to keep that damp towel wrapped around you while trying to stuff one's self into dry clothes, worrying that you're going to accidentally drop the towel on the floor. As I get older I just want life to be easier. And chucking the towel is easier.
TM was great in not being (or at least acting) surprised as my complete ignorance of lap swimming protocol. She showed my how to put on my swim cap. (man those things really yank on the hair!! ouch!) And she didn't hesitate to move my cap off my forehead to be sure my goggles were a good fit. (I didn't do any of this in front of a mirror and had no idea the my goggles were sitting across my cap edge. And even if I had seen it I wouldn't have know that's a no-no.) Of course her having 2 kids might also explain why she was patient with my fumbling...
Once in the pool she watched me swim and then proceeded to show me drills that would improve my stroke. Once I told her I had coached rowing she even tried to explain "stuff" in rowing terms! That's a sign of a good coach - they can relate to you the same material in many different ways, especially if they can do so while relating it to a one of your other experiences.
Now all I need is some time in the pool to work everything she taught me out on my own. I believe they call this "practice".....
Well, I'm going to be visiting our "neighbors to the north" next week and wasn't sure how I was going to swim since our hotel doesn't have a pool. Never fear!! I'm now a member of the YMCA!!! And the Y in the town I'll be in is across the street from my hotel!!! How lucky can one girl be?!?!?!
The biggest trick will be wearing the same suit several days straight. 'cuz I only have one suit at the moment..... I'll make a note to remedy this ASAP......
After all that I DIDN'T DROWN!!! Well, I got water up my nose a few times... but I needed those sinuses cleaned out anyway....
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Things I learned watching a Triathlon
On Sunday I went to the Syracuse Ironman 70.3 to watch my first triathlon. (Like how I commit to doing a tri before I ever see it done?? I did the same thing with rowing...)
Bike - 56 miles
Run - 13.1
Sprint Tri:
Swim - 800m
Bike - 14 miles
Run - 5K
Did I lose anyone with the back and forth of metric and conventional measurements??
I am going to tri my hand at a sprint distance. However, this half Ironman was interesting to watch!!
The 70.3 indicates it is a half Ironman. (Ironman being the series and distance, I guess. Very confusing if you ask me.)
First I should clarify that there were men and women participating in the Ironman. (one of the gals in my office was confused. She thought it was a men-only event.) In the event you do not know, a triathlon consists of swimming, biking and running. Usually in that order. (although there are a few exceptions. A race out in Boulder being one of them.)
Below are the distances (as best as I can gather from Internet research):
Ironman:
Swim - 2.4 miles
Bike - 112 miles
Run - 26.2 miles (which, is also the marathon distance)
Half Ironman (70.3):
Swim - 1.2 milesBike - 56 miles
Run - 13.1
Sprint Tri:
Swim - 800m
Bike - 14 miles
Run - 5K
Did I lose anyone with the back and forth of metric and conventional measurements??
I am going to tri my hand at a sprint distance. However, this half Ironman was interesting to watch!!
Things I learned from watching the 70.3:
- People who do this are crazy. That's just my own thought - not prompted by any actual observed behavior...
- 1800 people participating in a tri constitutes a LOT of bikes and equipment! (this is the first transition area between swimming and biking)
People are VERY HARD to see in the water. Which makes me nervous as I do not want to drown while participating...
It must frickin' freezing, even in a wetsuit, to come out of 60 degree water into 40+ degree air. Not something I'm looking forward to....
They have "wetsuit strippers" for you to utilize!! OMG! Who knew?? What's funnier is hearing the announcement on the PA system before seeing what was actually going on... I had a mental image of someone pole dancing while slowly stripping out of a wetsuit. As you can see that isn't exactly what happens:
You have to run barefoot from the water to the bike transition area. Might not be a big deal to you but to someone like me with VERY flat feet... this will be an issue.
I'm mad at TIT. She told me to prepare to see naked people at the transition area. (some prefer to not bike in wet clothes and hence completely change.) However, I did NOT see any naked people and therefore I want my money back. (oh wait - it was free to spectate...) Once suited up to bike you have to walk/ run your bike through this area before allowed to mount.
Finally at the red line can you mount your bike and head off. Some people ran up the hill barefoot so as not to get grass and dirt in their shoe clips. The really ingenious ones had their shoes already clipped into the pedals while they ran up barefoot.
I did not stay to watch the transition from bike to run otherwise I would have been out there all day. As you can see it was a cool, drizzly day. And watching all those people exert themselves so much really made me tired. I had to go home and take a nap.
My takeaways from the event:
- No matter what, somebody is going to see me half naked when I do my tri. I'm not sure how I feel about this. (regardless of the fact I continually spent the ages of 16 - 27 clothed in what constituted as less than half naked...)
- I will have to run barefoot at some point. (When you hear the "thwap, thwap, thwap" know it's me coming out of the water...)
- If I do a tri that requires a wetsuit I might get to take advantage of the strippers. And I think that's just funny to tell someone about after the fact.
- I will be riding and running completely soaked. (refer to first bullet - and therefore will not completely swap out clothes) Most likely drenched in my own sweat, not lake water or rain....
All of the above is contingent on me not drowning during the swim. To ensure that doesn't happen I have my first session with my tri coach tomorrow night in the pool. Wish me luck.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Random Thought
I was joking with our new Admin that my hubby usually doesn't care much for variety. He found the volcano roll at the sushi place and refuses to try any others. He found his favorite tea at Teavana and won't bother trying any others.
For the longest time I looked at this as a personality flaw - not interested in trying something new if he'd already found what he wanted.
And then it just dawned on me that it is not a flaw at all, but an asset. He found me. I guess I don't have to worry about him trying "something" else to see if he likes it later on in life....
For the longest time I looked at this as a personality flaw - not interested in trying something new if he'd already found what he wanted.
And then it just dawned on me that it is not a flaw at all, but an asset. He found me. I guess I don't have to worry about him trying "something" else to see if he likes it later on in life....
A lesson in amortization
I wonder what other gals spend on clothes in a year. I always say that I'm on the cheap end of the list only because I hate to shop. But then I went to the Clarks store today and dropped almost $300 on three pair of shoes.
But it's because I want them to last. Last year I got rid of my "black shoes" (yes, my shoe collection is so sparse that I can call a pair "black" and know which ones I'm talking about) only because they were about 8 years old. They were Clarks. They cost me about $80 eight years ago. I don't think $10/year for a pair of shoes is bad at all. And I bought this cute pair to replace them:
About 4 years ago I bought another pair of Clarks that were $110. (this would be my "brown" pair) They aren't nearly as comfortable and I've been wearing them every year since because I felt guilty about spending so much. But I decided to replace them this year with a new pair. These were only $80. So $110 over 4 years comes out to $27.50 a year. Not as great a bargain a the black ones, but still....
And I bought a third pair of sporty things so I can run errands and such on the weekends without wearing my "real" running shoes and making them crap out faster than they should. These I image will last me many years. (I got them in gray so they will look newer for the long run!! I thought I was being very clever...) Which is good because I want to make my running shoes last as long as possible because thy are over $100/ pair.
Now I just threw out lots of prices that add waaay up. I know. But I have almost told you every pair of cold weather shoes I own. The only ones I left out are:
In all honesty when you add my warm weather shoes the count does go up.
How many pair of shoes do you own? be honest.....
But it's because I want them to last. Last year I got rid of my "black shoes" (yes, my shoe collection is so sparse that I can call a pair "black" and know which ones I'm talking about) only because they were about 8 years old. They were Clarks. They cost me about $80 eight years ago. I don't think $10/year for a pair of shoes is bad at all. And I bought this cute pair to replace them:
About 4 years ago I bought another pair of Clarks that were $110. (this would be my "brown" pair) They aren't nearly as comfortable and I've been wearing them every year since because I felt guilty about spending so much. But I decided to replace them this year with a new pair. These were only $80. So $110 over 4 years comes out to $27.50 a year. Not as great a bargain a the black ones, but still....
And I bought a third pair of sporty things so I can run errands and such on the weekends without wearing my "real" running shoes and making them crap out faster than they should. These I image will last me many years. (I got them in gray so they will look newer for the long run!! I thought I was being very clever...) Which is good because I want to make my running shoes last as long as possible because thy are over $100/ pair.
Now I just threw out lots of prices that add waaay up. I know. But I have almost told you every pair of cold weather shoes I own. The only ones I left out are:
- my cowboy boots (which I'm wearing right now)
- brown pair of low boots
- brown pair of "booties"
- black pair of high boots
- cheap brown ballet flats (from Target - which, btw, won't be lasting past this fall.)
In all honesty when you add my warm weather shoes the count does go up.
- brown sandals (of course)
- black sandals (of course)
- 2 strappy sandals (for two specific formal events. neither pair are comfy so I might as well just get rid of them)
- another pair ballet flats from Target - which will probably only last thru next year because I didn't wear them much this year
- Almost forgot my black NYC hooker heels....
- aforementioned running shoes
- low hikers
- regular hikers
- rain boots
- snow boots
- a few random pair of old running shoes I should toss, except for one since I wear them to to cut the grass and garden in
- crocks (that usually act my pair of slippers)
- Clemson slippers
How many pair of shoes do you own? be honest.....
Try to Tri
My brain has been all over the place these last few weeks. I just realized I never posted pictures from the family wedding. And now I feel it just wouldn't be funny anymore. One of those you-had-to-be-there kind of things....
And I've been posting random things on the blog... I realized I posted the oh-so-flattering picture of me in the goggles. Did I even mention that I'm going to start training for a triathlon?? I can't even remember. If I didn't tell you I'm tell you know. If I already told you I'm sorry for repeating myself. (ok, I'm not really sorry...)
(and think - I'm losing my mind and I don't have kids!! Clearly a sign that I could not function with them... I'll leave it to you fabulous multi-taksers to keep the world populated for the rest of humanity.)
I have purchased 3 one-on-one sessions with the tri-training at our Y. (this is sounding very familiar. I'm going to go back in my blog just to make sure I haven't already told you this....)
A-HA! I have told you. Back on Sept. 3rd. I wasn't completely committal on it at that point, though.
So I will tell you that I DID join the YMCA. And I DID sign up for 3 session with the tri-trainer, Kelly. Those session will be spent in the pool teaching me the proper and safest way to swim laps in order to prepare for a triathlon. (I just noticed in spell check that I've been spelling it triathalon and apparently the correct way is just triathlon.... I really think it's missing a syllable...)
Anyhoo...
I was talking to "This Is It" - (ha! for a second there I thought her acronym would be TIT! wouldn't have that been a hoot!! Too bad - it cracks me up so that's it. I'm using it.) - and she's a crazy Canook that is participating a weight lose contest at her gym(and blogging about it. I added her to the other blogs). I say kudos to her! She is a swimmer and I was relaying - no, lamenting - my swim suit purchase experience this past weekend. She was very sympathetic. I appreciated that.
So once I get in the pool and learn what in the heck I'm supposed to do my plan is to do the 6am spinning class M/W/F and swim in the mornings on T/Th. We'll see how that goes. The spinning classes might get slimmed down to only once or twice a week. Or maybe I should ease into them slowly so I don't kill myself. Anyone who's been to a spinning class knows that can really kick your arse! Although TIT loves them!! (but does concede they wear her out too.)
Hopefully by the end of winter I'll feel more comfortable about this swimming thing and will be confident enough to pick a tri to do.
Speaking of tris - we actually have a 70.s here this weekend. That is a half Ironman. It consists of 1.2 mi swim, 50 mi bike, and 13.1 run. These people must be nuts! (not say anything of those that do full Ironmans!!!) And of course my tri-trainer is participating in the 70.3!! Which means she's going to totally kill me in training! I just know it!
All I have to say is BRING IT ON, KELLY!!
And I've been posting random things on the blog... I realized I posted the oh-so-flattering picture of me in the goggles. Did I even mention that I'm going to start training for a triathlon?? I can't even remember. If I didn't tell you I'm tell you know. If I already told you I'm sorry for repeating myself. (ok, I'm not really sorry...)
(and think - I'm losing my mind and I don't have kids!! Clearly a sign that I could not function with them... I'll leave it to you fabulous multi-taksers to keep the world populated for the rest of humanity.)
I have purchased 3 one-on-one sessions with the tri-training at our Y. (this is sounding very familiar. I'm going to go back in my blog just to make sure I haven't already told you this....)
A-HA! I have told you. Back on Sept. 3rd. I wasn't completely committal on it at that point, though.
So I will tell you that I DID join the YMCA. And I DID sign up for 3 session with the tri-trainer, Kelly. Those session will be spent in the pool teaching me the proper and safest way to swim laps in order to prepare for a triathlon. (I just noticed in spell check that I've been spelling it triathalon and apparently the correct way is just triathlon.... I really think it's missing a syllable...)
Anyhoo...
I was talking to "This Is It" - (ha! for a second there I thought her acronym would be TIT! wouldn't have that been a hoot!! Too bad - it cracks me up so that's it. I'm using it.) - and she's a crazy Canook that is participating a weight lose contest at her gym(and blogging about it. I added her to the other blogs). I say kudos to her! She is a swimmer and I was relaying - no, lamenting - my swim suit purchase experience this past weekend. She was very sympathetic. I appreciated that.
So once I get in the pool and learn what in the heck I'm supposed to do my plan is to do the 6am spinning class M/W/F and swim in the mornings on T/Th. We'll see how that goes. The spinning classes might get slimmed down to only once or twice a week. Or maybe I should ease into them slowly so I don't kill myself. Anyone who's been to a spinning class knows that can really kick your arse! Although TIT loves them!! (but does concede they wear her out too.)
Hopefully by the end of winter I'll feel more comfortable about this swimming thing and will be confident enough to pick a tri to do.
Speaking of tris - we actually have a 70.s here this weekend. That is a half Ironman. It consists of 1.2 mi swim, 50 mi bike, and 13.1 run. These people must be nuts! (not say anything of those that do full Ironmans!!!) And of course my tri-trainer is participating in the 70.3!! Which means she's going to totally kill me in training! I just know it!
All I have to say is BRING IT ON, KELLY!!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Dogs and Soup - but not together
Since I have been using my side of the garage as a "workshop" for my Murphy bed I have been parking in the driveway. This has brought on an unexpected difficulty. Now I usually opt to go out the front door in the morning rather than through the garage. As soon as I open the front door Liam is up and at the door like lightning. Ok, not really lightning... but it's what I consider exceptionally fast for him. And usually I would be quick and nimble enough to open door, step outside in one fell swoop and quickly close it again probably before he could even mange to get his rump off the ground. However, in the morning I'm usually juggling a purse (yes, I do actually carry one these days), a bag full-o-stuff (usually my lunch and snacks) and on occasion - my computer backpack. It all makes me quite unwieldy. and slow.
The past few days Liam has managed to make it to the door so fast that I assumed he really needed to "go". So I let him out and keep an eye on him while I load up my car. Except Tuesday I noticed that he wasn't really going and he wasn't particularly interested in going back inside. I had to call the hubby to come and get him. This morning I figured out why.
He wants to go with me!
Of our two dogs he's not the "oooh! oooh! lemme ride!!! lemme ride!!!" dog. That would be Nikki. But it seems Liam thinks I'm going somewhere in the morning and he wants to come too. When he wouldn't go inside this morning I went in to get the hubby. When we came back out we saw this:
I think it was his way of saying "Mom take your time. I'll be right here waiting to go when you're ready."
Last night I made my famous "Quick Chicken Soup". (maybe the rest of world doesn't know it's famous but I think it is...) It calls for a rotisserie chicken picked-thru, chicken broth, pre-chopped bag of celery, carrot and onion and orzo (small pasta). Let's just say that I put in waaaay too much orzo. I usually do - but this time it was even more. So this morning, after sitting in the fridge all night, it looked more like a casserole.
I scooped some out to take to work for lunch for the next few days. I also took 2 cans of chicken broth too. So now I can choose to have soup or casserole. That way it doesn't feel like I'm eating the same thing for days in a row!! Genius!!!
The past few days Liam has managed to make it to the door so fast that I assumed he really needed to "go". So I let him out and keep an eye on him while I load up my car. Except Tuesday I noticed that he wasn't really going and he wasn't particularly interested in going back inside. I had to call the hubby to come and get him. This morning I figured out why.
He wants to go with me!
Of our two dogs he's not the "oooh! oooh! lemme ride!!! lemme ride!!!" dog. That would be Nikki. But it seems Liam thinks I'm going somewhere in the morning and he wants to come too. When he wouldn't go inside this morning I went in to get the hubby. When we came back out we saw this:
Last night I made my famous "Quick Chicken Soup". (maybe the rest of world doesn't know it's famous but I think it is...) It calls for a rotisserie chicken picked-thru, chicken broth, pre-chopped bag of celery, carrot and onion and orzo (small pasta). Let's just say that I put in waaaay too much orzo. I usually do - but this time it was even more. So this morning, after sitting in the fridge all night, it looked more like a casserole.
I scooped some out to take to work for lunch for the next few days. I also took 2 cans of chicken broth too. So now I can choose to have soup or casserole. That way it doesn't feel like I'm eating the same thing for days in a row!! Genius!!!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
I'm ready!
I'm ready for this tri thing!
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Friday, September 10, 2010
It's over
Yesterday I took Cabby to the vet and today I had to put her to sleep. She hadn't been eating for a week. We thought it was kidney disease. In fact it turned out to be cancer. Since she wasn't eating my decisions were to put her to sleep today or literally wait for her to starve to death on her own. I took the humane route.
I've never had to make this decision before. I had always half-joked with the hubby he was going to have to take the pets to the vet for their "last visit". When I was 16 my favorite cat, Fuzzy, had to be put to sleep under emergency circumstances. It was heart wrenching. I can tell you exactly what happened that night like it was yesterday. My other childhood cat peacefully died in our neighbors rosebush several years after I had gone to college so it wasn't as much of an emotional shock.
For any of you that have yet to experience this life-passage event I can tell you it was peaceful. My Aunt Honeymooner had made me a homemade flannel throw blanket last year. The note said she made it for Cabby because she was afraid she'd freeze to death - this after her visit to our house right after I'd shaved Cabby for the first time. Cabby loved it and claimed it as her own. I thought it only proper to take her to the vet wrapped up in that blanket. I absolutely did not want to take her in a cat carrier. That seems to terrify every one of my cats - I wanted Cabby as comfy as possible. She loved it. They put in a port IV in her little paw and I was able to hold her in the blanket in my arms when they gave her "the" injection.
Cabby - actually her "real" name is Cabernet - had been my kitty since 1999. She was 4 at the time. April of my senior year in college, as a matter of fact. She was part of the three day car trip my dad and I took to CO when I started grad school. If you haven't already heard it there's the story my dad likes to tell about Cabby. I had to drug her for the trip out west. My Ford Escort was so packed that she was in a soft-sided carrier that only fit between the two front seats, on top of all the stuff. Her carrier was literally shoved between the seats, on top of all the stuff, rubbing the roof of the car. Come to think of it - that was a pretty nice view of the road. If only she were sober enough to appreciate it. Dad likes to tell it that we wouldn't hear a peep from her in hours. Then all of a sudden she'd give a long, low, roaring meow. Dad would look at her and she'd be glassy eyed and drooling. For some reason that amused him.
Once in CO Cabby thought she had it made until I went out and got Ries. A two WEEK old kitten. At that point I think she thought she'd died and gone to hell. But somewhere along the line they found a truce that held until the end.
While in CO I constantly changed living arrangements. She and Ries handled it pretty well. (for the 2.5 years I lived in CO I lived in 4 different places. Not counting the whole winter holiday I lived in Christy and Anne's basement and they let me bring the cats with me...) And then there was the time I brought in a dumpster cat.... oh wait - that cat was already there when Cabby, Ries and Nikki showed up at the airport having been shipped from CO..... And then the time I started dating "that guy" who eventually brought his gray cat over to live with us... and never left...
She'd been air-shipped from CO to OH. She'd been on the car ride from hell from OH to NY... After a few years in NY she went blind. Poor cat. Apparently the cards were stacked against her.
But she had a great little life. We took care of her best we could - even when that meant putting her in a huge cage by herself to keep her safe and healthy.
It was lunch time when I decided that today would be her last day. I went back to work but I was worthless. I came home after 1. I snuggled with her in her blanket, on the sofa, until it was time to go.
I loved her lots. I'll miss her.
I've never had to make this decision before. I had always half-joked with the hubby he was going to have to take the pets to the vet for their "last visit". When I was 16 my favorite cat, Fuzzy, had to be put to sleep under emergency circumstances. It was heart wrenching. I can tell you exactly what happened that night like it was yesterday. My other childhood cat peacefully died in our neighbors rosebush several years after I had gone to college so it wasn't as much of an emotional shock.
For any of you that have yet to experience this life-passage event I can tell you it was peaceful. My Aunt Honeymooner had made me a homemade flannel throw blanket last year. The note said she made it for Cabby because she was afraid she'd freeze to death - this after her visit to our house right after I'd shaved Cabby for the first time. Cabby loved it and claimed it as her own. I thought it only proper to take her to the vet wrapped up in that blanket. I absolutely did not want to take her in a cat carrier. That seems to terrify every one of my cats - I wanted Cabby as comfy as possible. She loved it. They put in a port IV in her little paw and I was able to hold her in the blanket in my arms when they gave her "the" injection.
Cabby - actually her "real" name is Cabernet - had been my kitty since 1999. She was 4 at the time. April of my senior year in college, as a matter of fact. She was part of the three day car trip my dad and I took to CO when I started grad school. If you haven't already heard it there's the story my dad likes to tell about Cabby. I had to drug her for the trip out west. My Ford Escort was so packed that she was in a soft-sided carrier that only fit between the two front seats, on top of all the stuff. Her carrier was literally shoved between the seats, on top of all the stuff, rubbing the roof of the car. Come to think of it - that was a pretty nice view of the road. If only she were sober enough to appreciate it. Dad likes to tell it that we wouldn't hear a peep from her in hours. Then all of a sudden she'd give a long, low, roaring meow. Dad would look at her and she'd be glassy eyed and drooling. For some reason that amused him.
Once in CO Cabby thought she had it made until I went out and got Ries. A two WEEK old kitten. At that point I think she thought she'd died and gone to hell. But somewhere along the line they found a truce that held until the end.
While in CO I constantly changed living arrangements. She and Ries handled it pretty well. (for the 2.5 years I lived in CO I lived in 4 different places. Not counting the whole winter holiday I lived in Christy and Anne's basement and they let me bring the cats with me...) And then there was the time I brought in a dumpster cat.... oh wait - that cat was already there when Cabby, Ries and Nikki showed up at the airport having been shipped from CO..... And then the time I started dating "that guy" who eventually brought his gray cat over to live with us... and never left...
She'd been air-shipped from CO to OH. She'd been on the car ride from hell from OH to NY... After a few years in NY she went blind. Poor cat. Apparently the cards were stacked against her.
But she had a great little life. We took care of her best we could - even when that meant putting her in a huge cage by herself to keep her safe and healthy.
It was lunch time when I decided that today would be her last day. I went back to work but I was worthless. I came home after 1. I snuggled with her in her blanket, on the sofa, until it was time to go.
I loved her lots. I'll miss her.
*Sniff*sniff*
Folks, I will find out today whether my beloved little Cabby cat is dying. : (
This is my 15.5 year old, blind kitty. (and yes, the one I shaved...)
She hasn't been eating for the past week. A month ago she weighed 5 pounds. Yesterday she weighed only 4 pounds. She was dehydrated and they had to give her fluids at the vet. They also did a big blood work-up. We're afraid she might have kidney disease. I think we'll get the results back today or tomorrow.
If it's kidney disease there's no cure. It would be a matter of making her comfortable. But I also don't want to see her suffer. I think we may be at that difficult place - time to make a decision.
Cabby was my first cat "on my own". I got her at the end of my senior year in college. She did the three day almost-cross-country drive to CO with me and dad when I went to grad school. She flew from CO to OH when I moved. And a long car ride from OH to NY. She's been with me the longest.
*sigh*
This is my 15.5 year old, blind kitty. (and yes, the one I shaved...)
She hasn't been eating for the past week. A month ago she weighed 5 pounds. Yesterday she weighed only 4 pounds. She was dehydrated and they had to give her fluids at the vet. They also did a big blood work-up. We're afraid she might have kidney disease. I think we'll get the results back today or tomorrow.
If it's kidney disease there's no cure. It would be a matter of making her comfortable. But I also don't want to see her suffer. I think we may be at that difficult place - time to make a decision.
Cabby was my first cat "on my own". I got her at the end of my senior year in college. She did the three day almost-cross-country drive to CO with me and dad when I went to grad school. She flew from CO to OH when I moved. And a long car ride from OH to NY. She's been with me the longest.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
"So now I come to you.. with open arms..."
I had my first piano lesson last night on over 20 years. Can you believe it? When I did that math I damn near fell off my chair! (or the piano bench, as the case was.)
If you've peeked at my FB status you'll know that I have a FABULOUS piano teacher. Her name is Bernadette. I'm not going to give her a nickname because I think the name Bernadette is just too cool. (tho I might shorten it on occasion...) When I first met her in the piano store over a year ago I remembered that I liked her and I never forgot her name because... well really - Bernadette is hard to forget. It reminded me of Bernadette Peters. And MY Bernie is just as spunky and vivacious as B. Peters (but taller and with black hair, not red.)
She told me to bring everything I had that I'd been working on and she would go through it and decide where I needed to start. Just last week I had purchased a "I Used to Play Piano" book on songs from the 70's and 80's. (really - that's the name of the series!!) I was sold on it when I opened it up and saw Journey's "Open Arms". When I told Bernie that story and that I love Journey she got up and came back with a WHOLE BOOK of Journey songs. After we reviewed all my music and she had me play a little she was convinced that what I had bought was too easy and that I'd probably have more fun with the book she brought it. Which, by the way, were the original arrangements - not the yucky, watered down arrangements that were in the book I originally bought. But of course I didnt' realize that because I hadn't cracked the book once I got home...
You have NO IDEA how cool this was!! When I played as a kid it was classical music all the way baby. Bndt doesn't care what I play as long as I like it and I'm learning. (this theory of teaching probably would have gotten me a lot farther on the piano as a kid.... but I digress...)
It's sooo much nicer to play as an adult. No one is forcing me to play or practice (oh, all those hours sitting on the piano bench in tears with my mother beside me "play it again", "keep practicing"....) AND I get to play "fun" music too!!
I know, I know. It was one lesson. But she was sooo much fun I'm inspired to go home and practice. So far it doesn't seem like a "chore". I know there will be times when I'm busy and I'll have to force myself to sit down and just "do it". But that's ok.
YEAH!!!!!!
If you've peeked at my FB status you'll know that I have a FABULOUS piano teacher. Her name is Bernadette. I'm not going to give her a nickname because I think the name Bernadette is just too cool. (tho I might shorten it on occasion...) When I first met her in the piano store over a year ago I remembered that I liked her and I never forgot her name because... well really - Bernadette is hard to forget. It reminded me of Bernadette Peters. And MY Bernie is just as spunky and vivacious as B. Peters (but taller and with black hair, not red.)
She told me to bring everything I had that I'd been working on and she would go through it and decide where I needed to start. Just last week I had purchased a "I Used to Play Piano" book on songs from the 70's and 80's. (really - that's the name of the series!!) I was sold on it when I opened it up and saw Journey's "Open Arms". When I told Bernie that story and that I love Journey she got up and came back with a WHOLE BOOK of Journey songs. After we reviewed all my music and she had me play a little she was convinced that what I had bought was too easy and that I'd probably have more fun with the book she brought it. Which, by the way, were the original arrangements - not the yucky, watered down arrangements that were in the book I originally bought. But of course I didnt' realize that because I hadn't cracked the book once I got home...
You have NO IDEA how cool this was!! When I played as a kid it was classical music all the way baby. Bndt doesn't care what I play as long as I like it and I'm learning. (this theory of teaching probably would have gotten me a lot farther on the piano as a kid.... but I digress...)
It's sooo much nicer to play as an adult. No one is forcing me to play or practice (oh, all those hours sitting on the piano bench in tears with my mother beside me "play it again", "keep practicing"....) AND I get to play "fun" music too!!
I know, I know. It was one lesson. But she was sooo much fun I'm inspired to go home and practice. So far it doesn't seem like a "chore". I know there will be times when I'm busy and I'll have to force myself to sit down and just "do it". But that's ok.
YEAH!!!!!!
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
new rule
I have decided if I put in an honest effort to uncover the nutritional facts of a food and am unsuccessful said food will then be calorie-free.
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Monday, September 06, 2010
addict
My name is Zoo Keeper and I'm a caffine addict.
I've been drinking a lot of coffee at work over the past year or so.
The Keurig makes it soooo easy! but that's what we have at work. I have a great Krups here at home. I got it for dad when he comes to visit. But almost NEVER use it if he's not here.
Yesterday I was having a craving for some frsh, homemade, local pastries. so at 7:30 am I set out to a local bakery I'd never visited before.
They didn't disappoint! I came home with danishes, muffins and an assortment of Italian cookies (that have become an oh-so integral part of my life since I got married).
All those sweet carbs were begging for a cup o joe. I was going to swing through Timmy's drive thru and then I remembered - I had Timmy's at home.
I brewed up half a pot. And drank it all. And was yearning for more. So this morning I brewed 3/4 pot. And I'm drinking it all!
By MYSELF!!
But the tell-tale symptom of a caffine addict?? After drinking all this coffee I don't had a headache...
I've been drinking a lot of coffee at work over the past year or so.
The Keurig makes it soooo easy! but that's what we have at work. I have a great Krups here at home. I got it for dad when he comes to visit. But almost NEVER use it if he's not here.
Yesterday I was having a craving for some frsh, homemade, local pastries. so at 7:30 am I set out to a local bakery I'd never visited before.
They didn't disappoint! I came home with danishes, muffins and an assortment of Italian cookies (that have become an oh-so integral part of my life since I got married).
All those sweet carbs were begging for a cup o joe. I was going to swing through Timmy's drive thru and then I remembered - I had Timmy's at home.
I brewed up half a pot. And drank it all. And was yearning for more. So this morning I brewed 3/4 pot. And I'm drinking it all!
By MYSELF!!
But the tell-tale symptom of a caffine addict?? After drinking all this coffee I don't had a headache...
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syracuse serengetti
forgive me if i spelled that incorrecty. y'all know i cant spell for crap...
but the dogs accompanied me outside to enjoy this gorgeous weather.
but the dogs accompanied me outside to enjoy this gorgeous weather.
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Sunday, September 05, 2010
the "almost" escapee
i believe this cat figured out how to open the screen door!
note to self - much watch him more closely. dont want him to escape!
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Friday, September 03, 2010
Go big or go home!
As a kid (I define "kid" as me prior to 30...) I was a perfectionist. So much so that I was afraid of failing. I was afraid I'd let people down. Whether it was coming in 4th in the 100m sprint in 9th grade or not going into a more demanding field because I was afraid I wouldnt' be good at it.
Some of you may be familiar with these sentiments. Some of you aren't. There are people out there who never really worry about failing. Ok, they might worry about it but they don't let it stop them from doing something. Therein lies the difference. If i was afraid of failing I usually wouldn't even give it a try to start. Or I'd make excuses. Or something to make my failure, or my perceived eminent failure, not look "so bad".
In case you're wondering - this way of life has not worked out the best for me. I can look back and see lots of missed opportunities that now, at 34, would kill for. But I won't dwell on the past. Can't change it anyway, right??
But now I'm finding that I'm starting to swing the opposite direction. If I'm going to try it, dammit I'm going to do it up BIG!
- Start riding a road bike?? Why not buy a brand-new bike and train for a century ride??
- Want to start running more? Book myself for a 5K? HELL NO! Sign me up or an out-of-town half marathon!!
- Rollerblade just around the lake for exercise?? Well, yeah. That's all I do on my Rollerblades.... for now! ; ) Although I wouldn't rule out a roller derby stint at some point....
So I've had several people ask me if I do triathlons since I already run and bike. I don't. But maybe not for long. I'm going to join the Y (since it has a pool) and I've already been in touch with the gal that organizes the tri-training. I'm putting together a plan. Because why bother to learn to swim fast if all I'm going to do it do laps in a pool??
So I'll try and keep you in the loop with the "training" thing.
BTW - I have not forgotten about the wedding pictures. I'll try and get those up this weekend.
Also - I'm still working on the Murphy bed - just haven't injured myself beyond a little 'ol bruise.
But fear not - surely I'll do something to hurt myself!
Some of you may be familiar with these sentiments. Some of you aren't. There are people out there who never really worry about failing. Ok, they might worry about it but they don't let it stop them from doing something. Therein lies the difference. If i was afraid of failing I usually wouldn't even give it a try to start. Or I'd make excuses. Or something to make my failure, or my perceived eminent failure, not look "so bad".
In case you're wondering - this way of life has not worked out the best for me. I can look back and see lots of missed opportunities that now, at 34, would kill for. But I won't dwell on the past. Can't change it anyway, right??
But now I'm finding that I'm starting to swing the opposite direction. If I'm going to try it, dammit I'm going to do it up BIG!
- Start riding a road bike?? Why not buy a brand-new bike and train for a century ride??
- Want to start running more? Book myself for a 5K? HELL NO! Sign me up or an out-of-town half marathon!!
- Rollerblade just around the lake for exercise?? Well, yeah. That's all I do on my Rollerblades.... for now! ; ) Although I wouldn't rule out a roller derby stint at some point....
So I've had several people ask me if I do triathlons since I already run and bike. I don't. But maybe not for long. I'm going to join the Y (since it has a pool) and I've already been in touch with the gal that organizes the tri-training. I'm putting together a plan. Because why bother to learn to swim fast if all I'm going to do it do laps in a pool??
So I'll try and keep you in the loop with the "training" thing.
BTW - I have not forgotten about the wedding pictures. I'll try and get those up this weekend.
Also - I'm still working on the Murphy bed - just haven't injured myself beyond a little 'ol bruise.
But fear not - surely I'll do something to hurt myself!
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