Life, Music

By kilax, December 7, 2017 8:10 am

• The Lindsey Stirling “Warmer in the Winter” concert was FANTASTIC! Watching her play the violin and dance was just as impressive and fun as I thought it would be. The concert had a playful tone with some humorous bits (and sometimes serious story-telling). Stirling performed two non-Christmas songs – Elements and Crystallize. It was a holiday concert so I was surprised and excited to hear those songs. I’d love to see her again – especially to hear her other songs!!!

• Ugh, the opening act was painful though. An opener wasn’t listed when we got our tickets and I was hoping there wouldn’t be one. It was Stirling’s dancing partner (from Dancing with the Stars) and his wife’s group – Alexander Jean. I didn’t care for their style and got irritated listening to them. I felt like I was being forced to watch them, and just wanted Lindsey to come on stage!
• We had crazy high winds Monday night and a tree came down in our yard. It fell in the same spot as last time – right over the log pile. Ha. I am glad the trees know right where to fall – where they need to be chopped and placed anyway!

• Tomorrow is my nine year anniversary at work! Which sounds like a long time, but doesn’t even begin to compare to how long some people have worked at my organization!
• I ordered our holiday cards Monday and they are arriving this weekend, yay! I am looking forward to sending them out.
• I also set up a birthday party for Steven! His dad and brother are coming in to town on his birthday, so we’re going to have a little bowling get together with them and friends. I am looking forward to it!

Link to Random Thoughts Thursday 157

Life

By kilax, December 6, 2017 7:21 am

That’s how long we had the new tree skirt out before Data barfed on it.

Grrr.

Data is not an everyday barfer year round, just in December when he can’t stop chewing on Judy. Sigh.

Judy is the name of the garland

Why does he have to barf on carpet, or a rug, or other soft surface?! WHY?!?! THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER HARD SURFACES IN THE HOUSE THAT WOULD BE EASIER TO CLEAN.

I love our kitties.

Maybe we should leave the skirt off until Steven’s family arrives on the 22nd.

Khali looked so sad it was gone though, so I put her bed there. Aww.

Life

By kilax, December 5, 2017 6:23 am

Have you seen this (short) Brené Brown video about empathy versus sympathy?

A coworker shared it earlier in the year, and I’ve thought about it often since. The gist of the video is that empathy fuels connection with someone, and sympathy drives disconnection. Empathy is taking someone else’s perspective, not being judgmental, recognizing emotion in the other person, then communicating it.

Empathy is NOT finding a solution, or silver lining, or saying “at least fill in the blank!” when someone tells you about a situation they are struggling with. It’s not coming up with the perfect thing to say, it’s connecting with someone when they’re in pain.

The part of this video I think about the most is the note of saying “at least this” as not being empathetic, because we ALL do it. I do it! It’s natural! We immediately think “wow, it could have been worse if this!” Or, “at least not everything was affected.” And we often express that thought.

But people who are expressing pain about something are already living that pain, and don’t want to hear theories about how it could have been better or worse. They just want to be heard.

In the same vein, a friend shared this article (pdf here), giving suggestions on how to comfort friends suffering with the holiday blues. It has four points, and the second one, you guessed it, is about empathy, and how we tend to empathize with someone by mentioning something similar we’ve encountered.

Sociologists call this conversational narcissism: that moment when we shift the conversation to put ourselves in the spotlight. Odds are you don’t actually know how they feel. Even if you do, you should focus on their experience, not yours.

“When you’re faced with tragedy,” writer Tim Lawrence notes, “the most powerful thing you can do is acknowledge. Literally say the words: I acknowledge your pain. I’m here with you.”

That is basically the same conclusion the video came to – acknowledge what you’re hearing, let them know you are glad they told you, and don’t come up with a solution or suggestion, and especially, don’t “at least” them or make it about yourself.

It’s definitely something I am working on!

Life

By kilax, December 4, 2017 6:23 am

December is off to a busy start, like I thought it would be. And, it’s of my own doing, like I thought it would be!

On Saturday I ran, then immediately went to teach fitness boxing. I did NOT go to the Bath & Body Works annual candle sale like last year. I remembered how stressful it was, so I decided to order online instead. But you can’t stack coupons online, and you had to use a code to lower the candle price, which meant I couldn’t use my 20% off as well. I took that as a sign that I did NOT need to stock up on candles. Ha ha. My snis did pick me up one candle when she went. Can’t wait to see what scent she got me! Thanks, snis!

After fitness boxing, Steven and I got to work on the yard. We’ve had very few non-rainy weekends in November, so we hadn’t taken care of the leaf situation. And it was quite the situation.

Leaves from a small area of the yard

Three hours later, after using the leaf blower, mower, and rakes and tarps to move the leaves, our pile was done.

We won’t do a pile that big again. It’s too much to burn at once.

I took a one hour nap (!!!) after raking, then we were off to the holiday party at the studio where I teach. I wore the new festive sweater I got for the year (and plan on wearing to every holiday themed get together, ha).

Those are NOT the pants I planned on wearing with that sweater. I had on a different pair I could wear boots with, but the thigh rub area split when I was bending over before leaving the house. That made me feel great!!! Not. (I’ve had them a few years and they were worn out, but it was discouraging, ha ha.)

After the party we went out with Jen, Troy, and Declan for a bit!

On Sunday, Steven left early to help a friend, and I went on a run, then did errands (six stores, eek!).

My brother-in-law and I have an ongoing joke that we are buying each other all Porg-related things for Christmas. But is it a joke…?!?!

Steven and I got home around the same time, ate a quick lunch then started to burn the leaf pile.

Pretty (mostly) leaf-free yard!

We spent three hours burning the pile before we started spraying it down. Most of the first half of that time was burn control, but once the pile was about two-thirds its original size, we pulled up some chairs and chilled a bit.

I really wanted to be lazy the rest of the night, but I had it in my head that WE HAD to take a holiday photo this weekend. It was stressing me a bit. Last year was the first year we did one (this photo, also taken this weekend), so I guess I thought people would be expecting one again? Logic tells me that no one would be upset if they did not get a holiday card from me, but year after year, I have an acquaintance from college ask me WHY they do not get my holiday card (year after year, it was “we don’t send one,” until we did one, and I wasn’t going to send one after all that weirdness, ha).

Anyway, I like taking the card and sending it! We just didn’t make it a priority, so I put the stress on myself.

So after burning the pile, we (kind of) finished decorating the tree. We put the skirt out (fingers crossed Data doesn’t ruin it) and put the balls on – the tree still doesn’t have other ornaments on it. Then we tried to cat wrangle.

Fun times.

After the photo sesh, Data and Khali couldn’t get enough of being under the tree. Typical.

Khali actually slept there for a few hours last night!

Then dinner, more chores (and work for Steven – he had to work a bit this weekend), finishing my training post, and bed! And I still need to select a design and order the holiday cards!

I could easily cut out the exercise to gain back more time in my weekends, but it keeps me saner through the rest of the day. I bet my workouts will get shorter and shorter as the month goes on though!

Running + Training

By kilax, December 3, 2017 8:16 pm

Highlight of the Week: Feeling great for my long run Sunday, and naturally finishing the last half faster than the first!

Monday | November 27, 2017: 5.2 m run (incl. 6 hill repeats) + teaching strength class
Loc: hood, Temp: 47°/47°, Time: 54:42, Pace: 10:31 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Strength: step and kettlebells, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Tuesday | November 28, 2017: 10 m run
Loc: VP Woods Loop, Temp: 52°/51°, Time: 1:52:14, Pace: 11:13 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, just annoyed with all the rocks in my shoes
Wednesday | November 29, 2017: rest
Thursday | November 30, 2017: 10 m ride + 4 m run (incl. 3×800)
Indoor Ride Time: 33:43, Pace: 17.8 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great – no sore butt!
Loc: Lake Andrea, Temp: 52°/50°, Time: 38:40, Pace: 9:40 avg, Difficulty: mostly easy, Felt: great!
Friday | December 1, 2017: teaching strength class + 1,008 yd swim + 4 m run + 3.3 m run
Strength: step and kettlebells, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: FitNation, Time: 22:03, Pace: 2:11 min/100 yd, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Loc: hood, Temp: 45°/48°, Time: 40:34, Pace: 10:08 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: fine, but hungry
Loc: VP Woods, Temp: 50°/47°, Time: 31:32, Pace: 9:33 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great!
Saturday | December 2, 2017: 6.7 m run + teaching strength class
Loc: VP Woods loop, Temp: 37°/37°, Time: 1:15:01, Pace: 11:12 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: sluggish (duh)
Strength: core, pads, and boxing, Difficulty: easy (mostly observing), Felt: good
Sunday | December 3, 2017: 11 m run
Loc: Outlet Mall Loop, Temp: 26°/42°, Time: 2:00:17, Pace: 10:56 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great

Notes:

• The combo of speedwork last Sunday then hills on Monday did a number on my legs – I was feeling it Monday night! I thought my long run Tuesday morning would be horrible, but it wasn’t – just all the rocks in my shoes were. Ha. I usually have a day or more between hills, speed, and the long run, but my schedule is going to be all out of whack this month as I try to fit my workouts in with holiday celebrations!
• Steven came with me to speedwork again this week! And he got to see how hella windy it is at the lake I do it at. Makes sense – it’s an open lake with almost no tree protection. Doing my speedwork there will build mental toughness… right? It’s worth all the irritation?!
• This was my highest mileage week this year at just over forty-four miles. Funny that I used to run over forty miles every week, last year, and the year before. I cut back on purpose this year. I think I’d like to start increasing my mileage again in 2018 though. I feel better (physically and mentally) when I run more.
• Monthly recap time. In November I ran 134.8 miles (25 runs, and my highest mileage month of the year so far!), cycled 62 miles (6 indoor rides) and swam 3,822 yards (4 swims). My coldest run was 25°F and my warmest was 63°F. I did 4 hill sessions and 5 speed sessions. I taught 7 strength classes, and 3 fitness boxing class.

Link to Training Week 423

Running + Training

By kilax, December 2, 2017 6:46 am

Ha ha ha, I meant “revolting against me” but “revolting” as an adjective works too!

It’s been in the 40s and 50s here lately and I’ve been enjoying wearing shorts for my runs!

My legs however, have not been.

What started as a tiny red spot on the inside of my right knee, has now spread to cover most of my entire lower legs. SEE PHOTO HERE (I did not want that photo to be what shows up on Facebook and in Feedly, ha).

It really itches, and is irritated if something touches it.

I am not sure if it’s windburn, dry skin, a reaction to chlorine (I swam yesterday), or a reaction to the stuff I put in my baths. Or a combination. I’ve had patches like this on my legs before, but never this much!

Whatever it is, OUCH!

I am going to wear tights for my run today. And maybe put vaseline on my legs. An obviously stop with the baths.

Unrelated photo of Khaleesi enjoying the fire with her mouse:

Life

By kilax, December 1, 2017 6:48 am

One of my first thoughts when I woke up today was “this month is going to FLY by!” We have something going on every weekend, and many weekdays. Wheeee!

So today’s quote is perfect for the first day of December. It’s a good reminder that it’s up to us to do what we value with our time! (That’s how I interpreted it. I am not a LOTR fan so I don’t know what it’s actually about. Ha!)

Here’s what I am excited about this month (per usual, list is in mostly chronological order)!

• Seeing Lindsey Stirling in concert! I’ve been a fan for a few years now and really want to see her dancing violin player shtick.
• Going to the dentist (I LOVE having my teeth cleaned).
• Completing refinancing our house.
• My annual December trip to Dallas to see Gina, Steve, and Luca!
• Running a holiday themed 5K (maybe!).
• Seeing Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
• Treating myself to a massage before hosting Steven’s dad and brother for Christmas (maybe I should have one after, too?! Ha.)
• Celebrating Steven’s birthday!!!
• Teaching three fitness boxing classes. I am especially excited for the December 23rd “Merry Fitness Boxing” class!
• Hosting Steven’s dad and brother for Christmas.
• Lighting the “campfire donut” candle. For whatever reason, I’ve been saving it for this month!
• Continuing getting in 5K shape! I have a long road ahead of me (I might be in 5K shape for a race in April) but I am enjoying the process of hill and speed work each week, and of eating less and losing weight.
• A quiet New Year’s Eve at home with Steven?!?!

Life, Rants, Raves

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

Life

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?

Running + Training

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