Comments (2)

By kilax, January 18, 2017 5:06 pm

Today when I was sketching layout options for a client by hand, they said to me “Wow! You’re really good at this!” (and “You should come design my house!,” ha ha).

I thought “wow,” when they said that. Wow, it’s nice to feel useful*. Wow, it’s fun to work with a client who’s excited about their project. And, wow, that made me feel good.

My bosses at both of my jobs are great about positive reinforcement, but there’s something special about it when it comes from a client. It satisfies that deep human need to be noticed for the hard work you do. And that need to be noticed, at all.

I hope you get a chance to be that person doing the praising and noticing, and that it comes back your way.

*for my particular set of skills

Comments (10)

By kilax, January 16, 2017 7:52 pm

Thankfully the huge ice storm that was predicted for the Kansas City area never materialized and we were able to get there safely on Friday to meet Baby William (and able to get home safely today, although we took a different route than normal to avoid storms in Iowa!).

Since my snister’s baby arrived my heart was aching to meet him as soon as possible. I appreciate Christina and Will opening their home up to us (and my parents, who had been there since he arrived) when the baby was (IS!) so new! We met him when he was only six days old!

Our weekend consisted of lounging around, eating, watching movies, and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, baby cuddling.

William is a sweetheart and we’re both grateful we got to spend time with him this weekend. And it was awesome to see my snister and her husband and their new role as parents – they seem like total naturals. The love they have for him is infectious and it makes me feel such joy for them, and whenever I think of William!

It was hard to leave, but of course, I already have my next trip in mind!

Comments (3)

By kilax, January 15, 2017 6:20 pm

Highlight of the Week: Meeting baby William!

Monday | January 9, 2017: 1,008 yd swim + 6 m run + teaching strength class
Loc: FitNation, Time: 20:30, Pace: 2:02 min/100 yd avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: awesome (but cold)
Loc: hood, Temp: 28°/28°, Time: 1:02:11, Pace: 10:22 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, legs a bit tired
Strength: body bars, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Tuesday | January 10, 2017: rest
Wednesday | January 11, 2017: 3 m run
Loc: treadmill, Time: 31:24, Pace: 10:27 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Thursday | January 12, 2017: 12 m ride + 5 m run (incl. 3×800, 3×1:00)
Indoor Ride Time: 49:03, Pace: 14.7 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: hood, Temp: 23°, Time: 49:47, Pace: 9:58 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Friday | January 13, 2017: teaching strength class
Strength: Airex pads and medicine balls, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Saturday | January 14, 2017: 1.4 m walk (w/Mom) + 4 m run
Loc: Overland Park, Temp: 30°/30°, Time: 41:54, Pace: 10:28 avg, Difficulty: easy enough, Felt: good
Sunday | January 15, 2017: rest

Notes:

• On Sunday Steven and I both got the TDAP booster and I was pleasantly surprised Monday when it didn’t bother me during my swim! Ha, later in the day? Not so much. It was like DOMS – my arm ached the rest of the day Monday and a lot of Tuesday!
• I liked running 800s this week for speedwork. I think it’s because I didn’t feel like I had to go as fast as 400s. Maybe I’ll learn to like mile repeats soon? Or maybe I’ll quit being lazy with speedwork and go faster for 800s too! Ha!
• The strength workout I taught Friday morning was really challenging on the legs and boy could I feel it Saturday am! Whoa! I haven’t felt sore like that from a class I taught in awhile! And usually when I’m that sore it’s because we used the tall plyo boxes and are going up and down a lot. This time, we were going up and down a lot but toward the ground, because we were using low AireX pads. Ouchie! <— in a good way.
• I was supposed to teach fitness boxing today but missed it to meet my new nephew! So you get a picture of him for Sunday!
• I keep forgetting to mention, but my knee had been tight since we did all our house work in August and I spent so much time on my knees. I had issues bending it while sitting cross legged, and going down stairs. The good news is, it’s feeling back to normal. Yay!

Link to Training Week 377

Comments (22)

By kilax, January 12, 2017 6:18 am

• Steven and I both got the TDAP vaccination on Sunday, and man, were we sore from it! I finally felt better yesterday, but Steven’s arm is still tender. Ouch.

• Besides this awesome score at Tarjayjay, I found my FAVORITE Valentine’s Day candy. It’s been years since I’ve seen this candy in stores – I usually have to buy it online! I bought the last three bags that were left. And I hope I find more. Brach’s did not sponsor this, but if they want to send me free candy, I’d accept!

• My snister gave me a return address stamp for Christmas and I love using it! You can totally tell what it looks like, right?! Ha.

• And a new picture of baby William! We’re planning to meet him this weekend, but the weather is supposed to be extremely horrible so please cross your fingers that we can get there safely!

Link to Random Thoughts Thursday 122

Comments (5)

By kilax, January 11, 2017 10:13 pm

Any other Garmin Connect users see Emerald City when they look at their running mileage chart?

Seriously, every time I see that page on the app, I think of it. That would be awesome if I could change the bars from yellow to green! “We’re off to see the Wizard…”

Comments (6)

By kilax, January 10, 2017 6:34 am

Hey! I get to play architect today (and use my degree)!

And it comes complete with dirty fingers from drawing with pencil.

And stress.

And ridiculous deadlines.

Blah.

Comments (33)

By kilax, January 9, 2017 6:31 am

Baby William is here!

Christina’s water broke at 3:30 am Saturday morning, and William arrived that night at 7:07, weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 20″ long. Christina was 36 weeks and 5 days pregnant, so he’s a bit early! Both her and the baby are doing well.

Saturday was such an exciting day! I woke up to see the text that her water broke, and I was pumped all day to see when the baby would come! I really appreciate that they were texting me and keeping me informed because it’s so hard not to be there. I’m so anxious to get there and meet him!!! Soon!

Hey, recognize that blanket?!?!?!?!?!?!

Comments (8)

By kilax, January 8, 2017 4:32 pm

Highlight of the Week: Having more energy in the second half of the week!

Monday | January 2, 2017: 1,302 yd swim + 7 m run + teaching strength class
Loc: FitNation, Time: 30:21, Pace: 2:20 min/100 yd avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: VP Woods loop, Temp: 39°/38°, Time: 1:19:15, Pace: 11:19 avg, Difficulty: hard, Felt: so so tired
Strength: body bars, Difficulty: easy (half partner work), Felt: good
Tuesday | January 3, 2017: 4 m run
Loc: hood, Temp: 37°/36°, Time: 39:48, Pace: 9:56 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, finally!
Wednesday | January 4, 2017: rest
Thursday | January 5, 2017: 5 m run (incl. 6×400) + 12 m ride + teaching strength class
Loc: hood, Temp: 11°/11°, Time: 50:57, Pace: 10:11 avg, Difficulty: easy-ish, Felt: good but COLD
Indoor Ride Time: 46:38, Pace: 15.4 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, just sore butt
Strength: soft balls, plyo and cones, Difficulty: easy (mostly partner work), Felt: better than I thought I would!
Friday | January 6, 2017: teaching strength class + 924 yd swim + 3 m run
Strength: body bars, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: FitNation, Time: 20:02, Pace: 2:09 min/100 yd, Difficulty: easy, Felt: strong
Loc: Lake Andrea, Temp: 6°/3°, Time: 29:21, Pace: 9:47, Difficulty: easy, Felt: really good
Saturday | January 7, 2017: teaching fitness boxing + 5 m run
Strength: whole body and boxing, Difficulty: easy (not partnered up), Felt: hyyyyyyyyyyyper
Loc: VP Woods, Temp: 16°/15°, Time: 50:29, Pace: 10:05 avg, Difficulty: easy (just slippery in spots), Felt: great
Sunday | January 8, 2017: brick (10 m ride/3 m run)
Time: 39:09/31:08, Pace: 15.3 mph/10:22 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great

Notes:

• On Monday and Tuesday, my legs felt so dead. And they had for at least a week at that point. I was starting to feel concerned, but they finally had some pep after my Wednesday rest day. Yay!
• I have NO technology complaints this week (unless you want me to complain about the video streaming…)! Can you believe it?! I did ask Garmin what was up with my steps sycning but not the activities, and they were basically like “it happens, deal.” Thanks! Ha.
• I got some news Saturday am that made me SUPER hyper. Sorry, fitness boxing class! (I’m not really sorry.)
• I FINALLY remembered what to wear for cold runs! I am not sure why it took me so long to remember to wear an extra long sleeve shirt and a thicker buff over my thinner one. My outside colder runs were much more comfortable this week. A hot bath is still required after, to thaw, though.
• This is silly, but I am proud of myself for running three miles on the treadmill. That’s far for me to go on one! Its a good option to have so I hope I can keep increasing my distance on it bit by bit.

Link to Training Week 376

Comments (8)

By kilax, January 7, 2017 12:25 pm

Unfortunately that is NOT for us to keep though. Ha!

Comments (14)

By kilax, January 6, 2017 3:10 pm

Someone is gonna look fancy at the opera…

Heh, even though the venue doesn’t look fancy AT ALL. Eh, whatevs. Our friends are getting all dressed up too so it should be fun!

Dress ✓
Earrings ✓
Clutch ✓
Hair ✓

Make-up?
Shoes? <— I’m hoping I picked the dress at the right length to wear flats and have them covered. Muah ha ha.