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By kilax, November 30, 2017 6:20 am

• Is anyone else listening to Sia’s new album, Everyday is Christmas? I downloaded it a couple of weeks ago (thanks to a recommendation from a Facebook friend, Susan) and have been listening to it on repeat! Yay, new Christmas music!

• On Tuesday Facebook changed the size of group page cover images, making all existing images cropped. I was annoyed, but figured I’d just reformat them. I changed the images to the two pages I administer to the new size, but every time I uploaded them (at the right size), Facebook zoomed in on them, essentially cropping them, again. I tried a few more times and eventually just padded the images so that you could see the content. What a sloppy annoying mess.
• The honeymoon period has worn off with my work detail. I still like the work itself significantly more than my last position, but some of the typical office bs that I was able to deal with better at the beginning of the detail is starting to get to me now. I’m not surprised. Just tired.
• My mom is doing the Holiday Mile Challenge with me and is kicking butt at walking her mile each day. I’m proud of you, Mom!
• Here’s the watch face I am rocking right meow! (The snowflakes “fall” in the background!) Notice – no visible step count, ha ha ha.

Link to Random Thoughts Thursday 156

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By kilax, November 29, 2017 6:43 pm

It’s a Thanksgiving tradition to forget the cranberries, isn’t it? That’s not just us?! Poor neglected can(s).

This year I actually remembered, and quite early in the day! Woo hoo!

But I forgot the most basic thing – asking everyone at the dinner table to say what they are grateful for. D’oh! I had even thought about my list and had it prepared (in my head)! Let’s blame me forgetting to ask everyone on that pesky bloody nose that caused me to miss the end of the meal. Grr, that made me a bit out of sorts.

So, here’s my list (I didn’t list the obvious: friends, family (including fur babies), a job, a home, food to eat, etc.):

• I’m grateful for everything my husband does to take care of our home, finances, cars, etc. Steven does so much and is a true visionary. I am not wired that way! But we complement one another.

Steven’s been chopping firewood from our own trees!

• I’m grateful for the opportunity to do something different at work and rediscover passion for work! What a surprise!
• I’m grateful the cop that pulled me over for speeding on the way to the train that Wednesday morning didn’t give me a ticket. I totally would have deserved it! Oops!

What was on your list?

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By kilax, November 26, 2017 7:48 pm

Highlight of the Week: Saying “Happy Thanksgiving” to people on the trail on Thursday’s run/running on a brand new portion of the Millennium Trail on Saturday.

Monday | November 20, 2017: 3.3 m run (incl. 4 hill repeats) + teaching strength class
Loc: hood, Temp: 46°/49°, Time: 35:27, Pace: 10:45 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: annoyed with cars, still mad about something from Sunday
Strength: BOSUs and dumbbells, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Tuesday | November 21, 2017: 15 m ride
Indoor Ride Time: 52:01, Pace: 17.3 mph avg, Difficulty: easy/medium, Felt: good, just sore butt
Wednesday | November 22, 2017: 3 m run
Loc: Chicago Lakefront Trail, Temp: 32°/34°, Time: 31:22, Pace: 10:26 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: pretty good
Thursday | November 23, 2017: 7 m run
Loc: Kilbourne/VP Woods loop, Temp: 33°/32°, Time: 1:18:52, Pace: 11:16 avg, Difficulty: easy-ish, Felt: good, legs kind of tired
Friday | November 24, 2017: teaching strength class + 672 yd swim + 3 m run
Strength: ankle resistance bands, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, but tired (sleepy)
Loc: FitNation, Time: 15:26, Pace: 2:18 min/100 yd, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Loc: VP Woods, Temp: 63°/63°, Time: 30:50, Pace: 10:16 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great, especially to run in shorts and a tank!
Saturday | November 25, 2017: 5 m run
Loc: Millennium Trail to Pine Dunes and back, Temp: 43°/44°, Time: 52:14, Pace: 10:26 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great!
Sunday | November 26, 2017: 10 m ride + teaching fitness boxing + 3 m run (incl. 4×400)
Indoor Ride Time: 37:58, Pace: 15.8 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, just sore butt
Strength: box and boxing, Difficulty: easy (all observing), Felt: good
Loc: Lake Andrea, Temp: 49°/49°, Time: 29:09, Pace: 9:43 avg, Difficulty: easy/medium, Felt: good!

Notes:

• The Holiday Mile Challenge started this week! I have to log a mile (walking, swimming, biking, running, whatever) each day from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day. So far, so good!
• Whiny whine whine – I was excited to see how many steps I got on Thanksgiving after a seven mile run then being on my feet all day. But my watch goofed up, and my steps didn’t count from after my run until I reset my watch ten hours later. Annoying. I changed my watch to a new face that doesn’t show my steps, cause I don’t care when I don’t see them! <— so dumb
• Speaking of Thanksgiving, it bums me out to see people so stressed about overeating on that day. Yeah, don’t eat yourself to the point you’re uncomfortable, but it’s a holiday! Indulge a bit! It’s just one day.
• And on that note, I did NOT do a 5K on Saturday because I’m just a bit too heavy now to go push it and see where my fitness is. Maybe I’ll do one in December.
• It’s been kind of gloomy for most of the month, so it was nice to have the sun out for all of this week’s runs (and to even wear shorts for my last three runs!). I would NEVER say that in the warm/hot months, ha!
• The classes I teach at Essential Fitness feel like fun workouts with friends, so I forget, from time to time, that people pay to take the classes! Ha ha ha. I guess that’s a good thing… if the students feel that way too!
• Steven came with me on my Sunday run, to walk. Knowing he was there and that the sooner I finished my run the sooner I got to walk with him made me go a lot faster! And of course, my fastest interval was the one where we were crossing paths.
• Ugh, I need to get back to figuring out time in my weekend schedule for a long run! I feel so good when I do one!

Link to Training Week 422

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By kilax, November 25, 2017 2:07 pm

Literally.

Last year, we bought a lovely tree skirt. It was kind of expensive, but we figured we’d use it for years to come.

Last year’s tree and skirt

Data had other plans for it.

For whatever reason, he was drawn to it when he needed to throw up, or go number two. We kept cleaning up the spots, but it was of no use – the spots were horrible and wouldn’t come out. And the skirt couldn’t be put in the washer or dry cleaned. So when we recycled the tree at the end of the year, we got rid of the tree skirt too.

Grr. I was so mad.

We bought two tree skirts on sale after Christmas, liking neither as much as the first, but not wanting to make an investment at the peak of the season again, just to have it ruined.

The strange thing is, Data doesn’t do stuff like that anymore. Sure, he has throw up accidents, but he doesn’t do hate turds around the house. Ever since Khali moved in, he’s been on his best behavior!

So maybe there is hope for the new tree skirt?!

Maybe?!

We’ll see when we put it out!

But I am sure Data (and Khali!) will find some other way to get in to trouble!

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By kilax, November 24, 2017 3:07 pm

Thanksgiving was lovely!

I mean, how could it not be, with all those rolls?! Fifty rolls for ten people… we got that ratio right!

I was anxious about getting the house set up for hosting, but I kept reminding myself that our friends coming over had seen our house at its messiest during our August 2016 construction project, so anything’s an improvement over that! Ha.

And, really, friends don’t care about stuff like that. Especially on Thanksgiving – when it’s all about togetherness and FOOOOOOOOOD. But I still get in my head sometimes.

Anyway! I was really happy with how the set-up turned out! We rearranged our living space to put the dining table in there (there’s no way ten people would fit in our dining room).

And we still had open circulation on the first floor so the kids could run circles! <— priorities! I got out my old toys out for the kids to play with, and it was fun to see the toys being used and enjoyed.

The food turned out great! On the menu was tofurky roasts and veggies, mashed potatoes, dressing, GBC (green bean casserole), sweet potato casserole, cranberries, and rolls. Our guests brought a turkey, wine, brownies, and pies. (We had the last two items, and ice cream and vegan cheesecake for dessert).

And apps, of course.

Steven did all the planning and cooking, and I did the sous-chefing

NOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMZ

We ate lunch just before 2:00 pm. We like to have the big meal earlier in the day so that we can eat Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner! Yaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssss.

The only bad thing that happened was I got the nosebleed from hell and missed about twenty minutes of conversation. And the weird thing about the nosebleed is I got it immediately after talking about the character Eleven, from Stranger Things – who gets a nosebleed on the show whenever she uses her powers! (No, I didn’t move anything telepathically before I got the nosebleed, ha!). Annoying.

After the meal, the adults visited (while the kids played), then we all had dessert, then took family photos outside (I wish I would have gotten a photo of me and Steven!), then the kids ran around, then we came back in for a fire and more chatting. Data hung around the whole time (and particularly enjoyed swatting at the youngest kid while they ran around the first floor). Khali hid under the bed the whole time, but was super sweet after everyone left. Snow hung around the house and appreciated the turkey!

It was such an enjoyable day! I’m grateful we have these friends in our lives. I think it’s a special thing when one couple hits it off so well with another couple. And then especially when you introduce your friends to each other and they hit it off, too (the husbands had met before, during said August 2016 construction project, but not the wives).

At the end of the day, our guests helped us clean up and rearrange the living room back to its original state – gotta make room for our Christmas tree!!!

Comments (7)

By kilax, November 22, 2017 12:21 pm

Every year, I get questions about why we don’t see our families for Thanksgiving. Every year, I say the same thing – my husband owns a small business and runs major sales Friday-Monday. We stay close to home (both of our families are out of state) so he can go to the warehouse and work. It’s a nutso weekend for him.

(And the truth is, I am fine with staying home for this holiday.)

I’m getting even more questions this year, because I am on a new team at work, and people don’t know my story (and would probably forget anyway, which is fine). The questions don’t bother me, but some people do ask rather bluntly “Why don’t you see your family?”

So. A reminder: the holidays are hard for some people! If you feel the need to ask them about their family relationships, be gentle about it! And if you don’t know them well, maybe don’t go there? Ha ha. (Again, it doesn’t bother me, just made me think about this!)

This is the first year in a while that we are hosting Friendsgiving! We are hosting two families. Tonight we are going to rearrange the house to fit everyone. I am anxious to see how it all turns out, and excited about visiting AND EATING!!!! with everyone tomorrow.

Old photo, but accurate representation of what I plan to do tomorrow

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By kilax, November 20, 2017 6:23 am

Snow gets in to his house through this “sliding glass door” that is left open all the time:

Which is fine in the warmer months, but not in the colder ones! Too much cold air is getting in, and too much of the heated air is getting out.

So we temporarily hung a towel over the enclosure to try to block some of the air exchange. Classy. But you know Steven had something better planned!

Steven used flashing and bent it to the shape of the flashing over Snow’s entryway.

Then tested it to make sure it fit.

After it did, he added copper snaps.

Then cut up a moving blanket and added the snaps to it as well:

Then attached the blanket to the flashing and slid it on top of the door (it only covers half the glass so we can still see if Snow is in there)!

Snow approves!

And thankfully, he figured out how to get in and out (I always worry he’ll think we’re blocking him out).

Snow likes to come in our house for cuddles from time to time, but he very much wants to go back outside when he’s had enough! So we want to make sure he’s comfortable outside!

Comments Off on Training Week 422

By kilax, November 19, 2017 6:05 pm

Highlight of the Week: Running and visiting with Rachel!

Monday | November 13, 2017: 4 m run (incl. 6 hill repeats)
Loc: hood, Temp: 34°/38°, Time: 42:46, Pace: 10:41 avg, Difficulty: easy/medium, Felt: great (overdressed at times though!)
Tuesday | November 14, 2017: 3 m run
Loc: Lake Andrea, Temp: 47°/47°, Time: 30:04, Pace: 10:01 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: fantastic
Wednesday | November 15, 2017: rest
Thursday | November 16, 2017: 4.5 m run (incl. 10×1:00)
Loc: Lake Andrea, Temp: 34°/34°, Time: 47:57, Pace: 10:40 avg, Difficulty: easy-ish until the last few repeats, Felt: okay!
Friday | November 17, 2017: teaching strength class + 1,008 yd swim + 7 m run
Strength: ankle bands, Difficulty: easy/medium, Felt: good! worked hard
Loc: FitNation, Time: 22:03, Pace: 2:11 min/100 yd, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, relaxed
Loc: Kilbourne/DPRT loop, Temp: 42°/40°, Time: 1:15:44, Pace: 10:49 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: awesome
Saturday | November 18, 2017: teaching fitness boxing + 3.3 m run
Strength: body weight moves & boxing gloves, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: VP Woods, Temp: 39°/37°, Time: 37:02, Pace: 11:14 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: a bit tired
Sunday | November 19, 2017: 8 m run (w/Rachel)
Loc: Burlington, Temp: 25°/27°, Time: 1:25:13, Pace: 10:39 avg, Difficulty: easy-ish, Felt: good, but a bit tired

Notes:

• I didn’t get to exercise much in the beginning of the week because work was so absolutely INSANE this week (didn’t take lunch breaks and worked late). Gah. Friday was a bit quieter and I hope next week is more normal.
• I thought my hill work and healthier eating was paying off because the inclines felt easy on my Friday run. Then a hill got to me at the end of my Sunday run. Ha! I’ll keep at it.
• On Sunday I got to run with Rachel!!!!! What a treat. We just chatted the whole time. I hope we can do that again soon.
• I am considering doing a 5K next Saturday to gauge my fitness. I’ll decide on Thursday (when I do or don’t do my speedwork that day!).

Link to Training Week 421

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By kilax, November 16, 2017 6:15 am

• Gah, it’s hard to believe all of the holiday celebrations start so soon! Who else has something going on every week until the end of the year?
• Speaking of holiday celebrations, remember when I said I hate looking for restaurants? Guess who got voluntold to plan a party for thirty-five people? SO not happy about that. Especially that I have to get all the options together by end of the day tomorrow. And was just told to do it yesterday.
• When Mom and I were at NeoCon, we didn’t have time to see everything, so we only went to showrooms I needed to visit for work, and showrooms with awesome giveaways (ha). Mom insisted on going in to one that didn’t interest me, but then came out with this lunch bag and I decided to get one too. And… I freaking love it. It’s the only lunch bag I’ve ever had that fits all my food in it. So, thank you, Mom, for going in to that small showroom I said “no” to. Ha ha.

• Blah. Garmin Connect changed the “last 12 months” display from a line chart showing number of activities to a bar chart showing overall mileage by activity and me no likely. I referenced the line chart often to compare the amount of my current month’s activities to the previous month’s (I used it as motivation!). I can’t see that information anymore, since it’s in miles. And swimming basically disappears!

Before

After

• Ha ha ha, look what found its way back to my house! The MBP Bracelet went back and forth between mom and Christina, and then came my way. I was NOT surprised to see it in this package. Heh, package. (Isn’t that an adorable cat bed it’s resting on though?!)

Link to Random Thoughts Thursday 155

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By kilax, November 14, 2017 8:56 pm

I was at the salon getting my eyebrows waxed and sat in the beautician’s chair after so she could show me some eyebrow makeup.

But first:

What kind of foundation do you use?

I don’t use any.

Oh! What kind of moisturizer do you use then?

Uh… none.

Do you use a lotion?

Um, not really.

What do you use to wash your face?

Sometimes soap, in the shower (but not that often).

So yeah, probably not the best audience for that $78 bottle of moisturizer (even though it felt amazing). But I would like to try something new for my brows!

Similar to Monday’s sentiment, there are probably a whole lot of things I could be doing to take better care of myself. Eek!

I have been eating healthier. Yay! As a result, I have more energy (duh). But I also have a lot of work to do before some of my clothes fit again, and until I can run faster. I’ll get there. (But will I stay there? Muah ha ha. Ugh.)

Mentioning my diet reminds me of a conversation with a coworker. We were talking on the phone around lunch time and both of us were finishing up our meals. I told her I was having a peanut butter cup. She goes “I bet it’s some healthy, organic peanut butter cup!” It’s hilarious to me that people assume I eat über healthy because I am vegan.

It’s also hilarious to me that this brand of peanut butter cups actually is organic. That’s not something I shop for!

Speaking of work, I had more dreams last night about missing the train, then not being able to figure out the train schedule so that I could get on a later train to work (then somehow I ended up in a wedding dress). Is this better or worse than the dream I woke up to Monday, about a fatality I witnessed at an amusement park?

Ahh, commuting. Today’s train was late, and it was raining a bit. Whenever I commute to the office in rain/snow/bad weather, I think about a coworker who doesn’t come in anymore and how they often contact the people who do come in on days like this to say things like “the weather is so crappy this morning!” and “how was the commute?!” Annoying. And unnecessary.