Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Today's run

Another beautiful day! I worked 8-4, doing stuff in ArcMap, which I really enjoy, and then headed out for a run. After Sunday's 6k that felt so easy, I was thinking today's run would be just as good. It wasn't AS good, but it wasn't my worst! I ran 10k in 1:09, my first real fair-weather long run. I'm gonna need a hydration belt. Which I have in the works... I just have to tweak the details a bit. Also, running sunglasses. My regular sunglasses keep sliding down and don't block the sun as much as I'd like. However, do you have any idea how expensive prescription running sunglasses are? The cheapest I've found is about 200 dollars, just for the frames. I might just give in and get contacts, but I never really liked wearing contacts. Maybe they've improved in the meantime and will be more comfortable...?

I registered for the PEI Marathon 10k this morning. As far as I can tell, it's the only race in PEI that gives out medals! If I had the money, I'd be in NS every weekend for the races with medals! Anyway, I registered Little Fox for the kid's Spud Run again this year. It's a "race" around the track at UPEI. He did it last year, and had a good time. Every time he past someone he'd look at them over his shoulder and yell "HA HA HA HA!" in this evil voice. I was a bit mortified (hello? good sportmanship award at my first ever gymnastics competition!) but it was so funny that even the parents of the kids he passed laughed.

In other news, I'm having some pain in my jaw lately. It's been happening off an on for months, but it's becoming more on than off. I called the dentist, because I thought it would be easier to get in to see a dentist here on PEI than a medical doctor (loooong waiting lists for doctors here, also, we don't have PEI health cards yet). The dentist wasn't booking until OCTOBER! I explained the problem, and they fit me in for xrays and a jaw exam in 2 weeks. The problem is that it feels like my teeth don't fit together properly when I bite down... like my lower jaw is too far forward and slightly crooked. It hurts to clench my teeth or chew. Actually, when I chew, I can't really "grind" my food, (sorry if that was gross), and my molars barely touch each other. Anyway, I'll be interested to see what the dentist has to say.


Monday, April 29, 2013

Pattern Hack

This is a sewing post, but I'm attempting to sew running shorts, so it's still relevant.

I am cheap (read: broke) so I didn't want to spend money on a pattern. I browsed online until I found one I liked and was able to download the assembly instructions. The pdf had a diagram of the pattern pieces, so I copied the photo, and pasted it in Surfer (a software program used to make 3d maps). I took my measurements (around my thigh, waist, etc) and enlarged the image until the measurements matched. Then, using tracing paper, I traced the pattern off of the screen... haha no, I don't have a printer!

Anyway... it worked... kinda! I got the general shape. The legs are laughably too long and loose, but that's easily fixable. The rise is too high, but that will be fixed when the waist band is added.


In this image, I shortened the one leg and the rise on the same side to show what I hope they will look like when complete compared to what they are now. 

Why does my stomach look normal, but my legs look zombie-coloured?

This first pair is made of velvet spandex... Yes, mom, I cut up my prom dress! But I wasn't sure how the pattern would work out, so I didn't want to use my "good" spandex before I was sure I could make it work!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Runday Sunday

I've seen those words on Facebook a million times today. But it was a seriously beautiful day for it! First run of the season that didn't require long pants and a jacket.

I had a GREAT run today. I've never had a better run, actually. I ran 6k, although kilometer 2 was a bit of a write-off because my ear buds AND my ponytail kept falling out and it was driving me crazy. I left my phone/headphones in the mailbox, tightened my hair elastic, and kept right on going to the end of River Rd. I thought I'd get bored running without music, but it was great. The birds were singing, there was a slight breeze, and when I ran past the golf course I could hear the sheep and lambs baa-ing. (The golf course is owned by a relative, so last year we got to "meet" some of their baby lambs. We haven't been over yet this spring, but I hear there are a lot of new members in the flock!)

Anyway, I conquered that hill today, for only the second time ever. I told you I had a great run! I didn't feel out of breath at all, and my legs didn't feel tired. I don't know if it was the weather, my new tights, or just the 10k training. I kinda of can't wait til Tuesday to run again!

When I got home, I had a gooood stretch, and a shower before heading back outside to help Red Fox rake up last years leaves.

Holy crap, the LEAVES. I raked the small area between the house and Cottage 4 and ended up with about 5 GIANT piles of leaves. In some spots, they were about 5 inches thick, and WET (read: heavy). I'm going to be sore tomorrow!


A few other miscellaneous stuff:

Here's Little Fox helping grampy and dad with another big load of wood.


And we finally figured out how to make the dresser fit in our bedroom!



Friday, April 26, 2013

A recon mission

As of now, I'm a full-time geologist again. I was working part time since moving here, but things are starting to pick up (yay for survey season!). Anyway, I stopped working today at about 3:30 and took Little Fox on a run recon mission. I wanted to check out the condition of the trail in K-town.

The best part of the drive to K-town these days are the baby cows. I just wish they'd come closer to the road so I can see them better. It seems like there are more of them every time we go by!


The trail looks good for running. It's slightly rutted from 4wheelers and snowmobiles, but it's not sticky and muddy like I expected! And with the warmer weather that we're expecting this weekend, it can only get better.  We only walked about 2k down, but I see no reason why conditions would change.


I signed up for another run today. The Charlottetown Running Room's "second anniversary" run is on May 5th. I asked my sister-in-law if my niece (13 years old) could run it with me, and I registered us for the 3k race. I'm pretty excited! It will be fun to have a running partner. I just hope she waits for me! She's pretty sporty and could probably sprint the whole thing. 

This weekend is supposed to be nice, so I suggested to Red Fox that we take Little Fox fishing. There's a pond down by the Anne of Green Gables place, and there have been a few people fishing there lately. Conveniently, that is about 5k from home. So my plan is (if we do go fishing) is to drive to the pond with the boys, take a few pics, and then run back home. I haven't been running since last weekend. Ugh. 

OH! BIG NEWS. Well, for us it's big news... we hope! Red Fox got some mail today. We ordered a snore guard. He got it fitted and wore it for a few hours this evening. I hope it works! It could be life-changing!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Blue Nose

Me, showing my bluenose pride at the relaunch of the "new" Bluenose II

I just registered for the Blue Nose 10k. I'm shaking, for some reason. Excited, yet kinda terrified. There will be So.Many.People there, and I'm afraid I'm going to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Also, I'm going to admit that Halifax kind of scares me! I'm obviously a small-town girl.

Thanks to a ride from someone here in PEI (someone I haven't met yet) and my cousin Mer who is letting me bunk at her place, I'll be there! She lives about 1km away from the race start, so I'll be able to get a decent warm-up on my way there.

I'm so excited to run over the bridge!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Worth it? Justified?

I've been last twice in the last 2 days if I'm going to do the Blue Nose 10k. I want to, and I'm afraid that if I don't, I'll regret it (you know, until next year). The ONLY thing holding me back from registering is the cost. Registration is 60 dollars. The bridge is 40. Gas would be 100 or so. Ugh.

I'm going to see if there are any PEI runners who are going to be making the trip over. It would take some logistic magic, but if I could hitch a ride with someone, and then stay with someone in Halifax area (someone who could take me to and from the race), and then get a ride back... I just might be able to swing it.


Saturday, April 20, 2013

Run Without Borders Race Recap, and a few unflattering photos

This morning was a windy and rainy morning. A GREAT day for a race! At a park right next to the "ocean".


We spent the night at Red Fox's mom's, which meant we were all tired this morning. Little Fox is a bed hog! Anyway, we got to Point Pleasant Park at 8:15-ish. I sent a text to Courteney to let her know we were there, and after a moment of confusion over a big black truck,we found each other. I got my number on and we wandered over to the Running Room tent where we took part in some group warm-up silliness. I felt like I had to pee, but I thought it was just nerves or that I was a little cold. We lined up and we were "off to the races". 

We chit-chatted a tiny bit at first, about how to run up hills. After the first kilometre, I knew that I actually did have to pee. I stopped at an outhouse (gag) just before the 1.5k mark. The door didn't have a latch. One handed re-dress isn't easy. One of the innocent by-runners may have caught a glimpse! (Don't look, Ethel!) I waved at Courteney on her way back and grabbed a drink at the 1.5k mark. 

You know what? There are some big hills in that park! And they sneak up on you... I was running along, feeling ok, when I turned a corner and there was a mountain. Gah. There were 2 mountains to run up. And I had to do the loop twice.

The first 4k I find hard. I was getting hot, my glasses were all misty (although thanks to the mist, my nose and sinuses weren't bothering me). I somehow got my number unpinned from my coat, unzipped and got it pinned back on my my shirt. By the 5th km, my breathing was better, but my arms were getting tired. I know... my ARMS? I don't know why my arms get tired when running, but they do. Turning that last corner and seeing the Running Room stuff was a relief, but I still had to do it all over again! With 33 mins on the clock, I stripped off my jacket, had a drink (thanks, Courteney!), took a few deep breaths, thought "I can't do this!" and started in on my the next 5k. 

The 6th km felt great. I was running right behind 2 women, one of which had a Doctors without Borders shirt on. The one on the left, below. Sorry it's blurry, but you know, I was running. 


The lady on the right stopped to walk, and I turned to her and said "It's my first 10k, we can do it!" and we struck up a little chat. The woman in the Doctors Without Borders shirt is the past president of the organization! A hero in my eyes. 

Here I am, looking super good on the run (literally). 

Seriously, what is wrong here? Why do I look so weird? Apparently, THIS is true.

By 7k, my legs were really getting tired. I sent a text to both Red Fox and C, saying "At 7. Dying" but obviously I didn't. I found the 8th and 9th km the hardest. Honestly, I walked some. But the good thing about up-hills, are the corresponding downhills. Never hold back on a down hill. C was waiting for me near the end, and she ran the last km or so with me. By this time, I was so focused on getting to the finish line that I forgot to pay attention to my breathing and was panting a bit. I do that in every race. 

And then: the big red FINISH LINE. I did it! I finished in one hour and 9 minutes. I didn't come last, but I don't think there were many people behind me! 

After the race, we had some snacks...

LOL "eating" pictures are NEVER flattering. Even Little Fox looks weird!

...and then we headed over to Spryfield to visit some friends. I got to meet their baby boy (super cute!), talk a bit of shop (D used to work at CSR), parenting, and "history" (D and I went though Geology together at Acadia). We headed out to Porters Lake to pick up the final load of crap stuff, and then hit the road back to PEI. 

So... what's my next race gonna be? 

Thursday, April 18, 2013

A good day

I'm feeling pretty much back to normal now. A little bit of appetite loss, but that's alright. It's that kind of thing when I can't decide if I'm not really hungry, if if I'm just not hungry for the food we have.

I had a good day of work today, trying to hunt down some glacial flutes. They must be well camouflaged.

I went for another run today, and took Molly Dog with me. She's one heck of an anchor. But the run felt great and I'm feeling better about Saturday. I'm sure you "all" are sick of reading about it, but... it's important to me. A gymnastics friend even signed up to run some of the race with me (Hi Courteney!). Which, honestly, floored me. How cool is it that someone would not just come WATCH but RUN with me, just because she remembers her first 10k race? See Boston Bomber? We runners stuck together. After the race, we're going to stop in and see one of my friends from Acadia, who also worked for CSR for a bit. He and his wife have a new baby, so it'll be excited to visit! He's the one who peer-pressured me into trying the 5k at the PEI marathon last year. So, thanks for that!

Little Fox and I spent some time outside, tracking rabbits (meaning following the trails of poop), checking out the flowers that are peeking out, and we went for a little walk.

At bed time, Little Fox wanted some books, as usual. I grabbed one of the Bob Books that we've been trying to use to help him learn to read, and said first, you read this one to me, then I'll read some to you. Well, our little smartie pants read the Bob Book called Mat (it basically goes: Mat sat. Sam Sat. Sam sat on cat. etc). He read it as if he'd read it a hundred times before. And THEN he read half of Hop on Pop. He did great! I know that some of the Hop on Pop reading was just from memory, but there was also a lot that he legitimately read.

Proud. :)


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A very short run/walk for Boston

I went out for a SUPER short run this afternoon. I wasn't sure how my stomach would react to running after being sick (not so well, it turned out). It turned out to be as much of a walk as a run, and I felt like I was just thud-thud-thud-ing along.

A "Run" for Boston in French River, PEI

I wore the only blue-ish shirt/jacket I own, and my yellow headband. Boston colours.

I will try a longer run tomorrow in preparation for the 10k this weekend. I'm REALLY nervous about it now that I haven't been running for so long. Stupid flu. (Flu? Food poisoning?) I missed 2 BEAUTIFUL running days, and today was ok, but really windy. Tomorrow should be a good running day, weather-wise, so fingers crossed for a reassuring kind of you-can-totally-do-it run tomorrow before Saturday!


Also, here's a quick shot of the 4 cottages and our house now that the snow is gone, and before the leaves come in and block all view of our house!




Boston

The bombings at the Boston Marathon have hit me kinda hard. I spent a lot of time yesterday reading the news and holding back tears. I went to bed with a sore throat and a headache. Which is so minimal compared to what those in Boston are dealing with.

Red Fox and I talked about it last night. The only good thing to come of this is that people are really focused on how people ran TOWARD the scene. The first bomb went off, and people instinctively started running away, whether to actually get away from danger, or to get to someone else. However, by the time those people got 3 steps away, people were already running toward the scene. Runners turned around, after RUNNING A MARATHON, and RAN toward the people needing help. On CBC, I saw an interview with a runner who was a pediatric doctor. She and her father (also a doctor) were "on the home stretch" and were blocked off by race officials, She knew something bad had happened and pushed through the blockade to help. Her face during that interview... She's someone's hero, but she's going to be haunted by this.

I don't know how I'd feel, if I trained and trained and worked to get to the BOSTON MARATHON, which is like the epitome of all marathons, and the culmination of months and months of hard work, only to have the glory of it taken away by someone's... someone's what? fun? stupidity? revenge? How would I feel, as a runner, if my family, my support system, were standing at the finish line waiting to cheer for ME, and they got hurt? How would I feel if I were those 40 or so runners that were THIS CLOSE to the finish line, only to have to turn around and then run for my life? What about those who never got even close to the finish line? Bitter? Relieved?

The running community is like a secret club. We're all there to help and support each other. You know how bikers wave at each other when they pass? Runners have that same acknowledgement. No matter what pace you're running, what distance, what fancy electronics you have or don't have, no matter what brand you're wearing... we make eye contact and wave, which is like a silent "keep it up!". On Facebook, I'm in the Run Nova Scotia and the PEI RoadRunners groups. There was more activity in those groups the last 2 days than ever before. It was amazing to me how quickly we had news about all the runners from NS and PEI. News that they were all safe. Thank God.

I'm also in a parenting group on Facebook. The members are mostly American. One of the mom's posted that her friend's 2 brothers each lost a leg. http://news.yahoo.com/gripping-story-two-brothers-both-lost-legs-boston-132716397.html

"That fate tragically struck one family twice on Monday. Liz Norden, a mother of five, says that two of her sons lost a leg in one of the blasts.
She describes the unfolding of Monday's event to the Boston Globe, which began with a call on her cellphone:
"Ma, I'm hurt real bad," said her 31-year-old son. He was in an ambulance, he told her, being rushed to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
It was her second boy, who had gone with his older brother to watch a friend run in the Boston Marathon.
On the phone, her son said his legs were badly burned in an explosion. His brother had been next to him, but he didn't know where he was.
Within the next two hours, amid frantic phone calls and a panicked drive into Boston, Norden pieced together the horrific truth that will forever change her two sons' lives -- and her own. Each of the brothers lost a leg, from the knee down. One was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess, while the other was at Brigham and Women's Hospital. 'I'd never imagined in my wildest dreams this would ever happen.'"

And then there's this story, which I came across on another runner's blog: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/16/3985154/some-from-charlotte-are-among.html

Runners all over the world are going to be running for Boston. If you see a runner out in Boston colours, or a Boston marathon jacket, give them a wave. Well, do that for any runner, actually. There isn't a runner out there who won't be thinking about Boston.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The day after.

OK. So I'm feeling better today. Not 100%, but better. In the middle of the night, the night before last, it started. I woke up and felt... not "sick" but... off. I got up and it hit me like a brick wall. I spent the night on the bathroom floor.

Yesterday, once things started... slowing down, we'll say... I slept all day in the sun room. I had chills, and a killer headache. And my back was sore... and still is. Holy. I can hardly sit here. Back pain is worse today than yesterday, but everything else is better.

Red Fox was a rockstar. He got up in the middle of the night to get me a bucket, a wet cloth, a glass of water, anything I needed, and still wanted to help. Yesterday, he took Little Fox with him went he went to run some errands, which I know can be SUPER inconvenient, especially when those errands include going to the bank and going into his office.

Little Fox and Red Fox slept all night last night, as far as I know... I am hoping neither of them get this... whatever it is.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Snow Fall Warning

We have a snowfall warning. It's April. Come ON.

So this is what we did this morning:



It was SO nice this morning. Sunny, about 6 degrees, and "only" moderately windy. Now its about 2 pm, and has clouded over. The Radar shows that the snow is on its way. The Game of Thrones "Winter Is Coming" joke has been made a million times on facebook, so I'll spare you that. Winter isn't COMING, it's just not leaving yet.
Radar image for Canada.

We also built some lego "houses" this morning, and we spied on a bat that was hanging out on the light by the front door.

Now we're off to watch a movie (probably Penguins of Madagascar AGAIN), and make some popcorn in the hot air popper. Yum.

Tomorrow was supposed to be the Col. Grey 5k.... but... i guess we'll wait til tomorrow morning to see what the weather is like. :(

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Kindergarten Evaluation Day!

We just got back home after Little Fox's kindergarten assessment. He did great. They had stations set up in the gym at the school. There were maybe 8 stations. The lady came out of the gym, and came over to Little Fox. She asked if he'd like to go in the gym with her to look at some colours and animals and things. Little Fox said "Am I going to do some learning?" and off he went, with one big grin and wave back at us. Zero hesitation.

Red Fox and I had to full out a questionnaire while he was in the gym, and when we finished, we peeked in to watch. They were looking at big flash cards with letters, numbers, colours and pictures of animals on them. I could hear the lady saying "c-c-c-car, c-c-c-cat...", which Little Fox knows. They did some gross motor skills stuff, such as walking backward, standing on one foot, jumping, and throwing a bean bag.



When they were finished, they came out and the lady said that Little Fox did great, and that he's a very hard worker. I think Little Fox worked his magic and had her completely charmed. She didn't mention anything that needed work, so I guess we're good to go. I THINK they send us a "report", and I hope they do! Little Fox got 2 stickers as a reward for all his hard work.


In other news, we're in the midst of mud season here in PEI. We got stuck in the mud in the driveway yesterday. We saw this on the way home... 


See that red speck?? That's a pickup truck. How did they even plow that??

I'm resting my foot this week, so I haven't been running, and trying not to walk too much. There's a race on Saturday (5k) which is a fundraiser for the school that Red Fox went to, so I'm hoping to run that.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Nova Scotia Quickie

We made a quick trip to NS yesterday. Red Fox had a meeting, and I had to sign the papers for the sale of the house. We left at about 8am, and got to the lawyers office at 12:00. At 12:01, I was finished signing my name, and we went for lunch.

While Red Fox was at his meeting, Little Fox and I had an awesome time at the Discovery Centre.

 
Little Fox paws in a polar bears paw prints.
 Just before this photo, the bear roared and "scared da poop outta us".

 They had a presentation showing the difference between black gears, grizzlies and polar bears. We were the only ones watching. The polar bear skull was huge, and the black bear skull was tiny in comparison.


 Col. Chris Hadfield. One of my heroes these days. I'm following him on facebook, and his photos are incredible. I love watching the "geology go by" when I'm in a plane... I can't imagine being in the International Space Station... I've never get my nose unstuck from the window!
 We had a lot of fun in the bubble room. The tube one was broken (the one you stand in and it makes a bubble around you), so we played with this one instead. We got some pretty great bubbles out of that thing!
 I had fun with this. As Little Fox and I put the puzzle together, I pointed out all the body parts by tickling him. It's a good thing we were the only ones in there, cause man that kid can squeal!
They had a 3D movie about polar bears. It was pretty awesome. Don't we look great in our giant 3D movie glasses? It was almost an hour long, and I thought Little Fox would lose interest, but he was riveted the whole time. There was one scene where a starving bear  ate (GROSS ALERT) a decaying bear... and there was a lot of serious close-ups of that dead bear. I think a movie aimed at kids could have left that part out. I covered Little Fox's eyes. 

Red Fox's meeting lasted longer than we expected, so I missed getting in to the office by 20 minutes. I don't have a key for the new lock (are they trying to tell me something?) so we couldn't grab our stuff that Red Fox stashed there last time. We went to "the yellow house" and emptied the shed. I didn't feel comfortable just going inside, since it is officially their house now, so I left them a note and told them they can discard the stuff in the stuff in the fridge. Honestly, I peeked in as many windows as I could, but they haven't begun to move in yet, but still...

Anyway, we were on our way back to PEI after a quick supper at the Big Stop in Enfield. We had breakfast for dinner. On our way home, Red Fox was tired. I've noticed that if I ask him about something he's really interested in, he'll talk for ever. Last time he explained differential equations. I still don't get it. This time I asked him to tell me about electric circuits... I did half-decent (B+) in that portion of physics class in university, but couldn't remember the details. I'll have to think of something else for the next trip. Suggestions?

Sunday, April 7, 2013

House stuff

I've spent today "moving in". I hung pictures in our bedroom and Little Fox's bedroom. Yesterday, Andy helped Red Fox take our dresser upstairs. It will not fit in our room. *sigh* Seriously. We have this big giant house and our furniture won't fit in our room. I guess it's my own fault... I used the biggest room for my office and sewing room. We COULD switch everything... we'll see.

I wish we were "minimalists". I counted Red Fox's t-shirts yesterday. Thirty seven. And that's just the ones that were in the dresser. There are a lot that need to be folded and a lot that need to be washed...

Anyway, Silver Fox came by and took a few of his things that were still lingering here. That freed up a bit of space, but we still have too much stuff. too many couches. We have 3 couch sets inside... and 2 outside on the deck. I know. Can't get much more redneck than have indoor furniture outside.

I'm feeling very overwhelmed with the mess... I feel like I did a LOT today, but what did I do?? I've hardly made a dent in it all. I wish I could have someone help me, but I don't want to hear "where do you want this?" a million times.

I think we're going to make good use of casters in the sun room. Red Fox came up with a great idea. He's going to make the back corner a bar. There is a little bar sink, and some shelves for glasses and bottles (up nice and high). We have an old... we call it "that thing". It's kind of a side board/tall chest thing. Anyway, he's going to slap some casters on that with some more shelving in side, so we can roll it back up against the window when not in use, which will keep the doorway clear. We're also thinking of putting the tv stand on castors. Right now, it's up against the long wall, and the couch is maybe only about 5 feet away from it. That's not nearly enough room if we want to use the Kinect. So I thought if we could turn the tv stand 90 degrees, we'd be able to roll it back far enough to allow the sensor to work.

Anyway, sorry for the rambling about things that are pretty mundane and not relevant to anyone but us "foxes".

Oh yes, yesterday we went to Trivia at a pub in Ch-town with A and LA. (A's daughter babysat! yay!) The topic was crime and punishment/law and order. The questions were all about "famous" criminals or crimes, movies and tv, as well as local stuff. I looked at Red Fox at one point and said "I know nothing, Jon Snow". Seriously, I couldn't even guess at ANY of the answers. Next week is back to the "regular random crap", so I MIGHT stand a chance next week.

Probably not.

Crap.

I tried running today with the Ktown group. Ow. My foot. It's not terribly pain, but enough that makes me think I should rest it for a few days.

Of course this happens when I have that 10k race in 2 weeks.

Maybe I'll try the Colonel Grey 5k on the 13th, and see how I feel then.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Am I an Island Girl now?

I went to the K-town Running and Walking Group this morning. They meet on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday every week just to walk or run together. No formal instruction, just to add a social aspect to your run.

On Friday's, they meet at 9am. I knew that there wouldn't be many people there, as it's you know... work time. The first person I contacted about running here in PEI was a woman we'll call LH. She started a running group of local "girls", called the Island Girls. LH added me to Facebook, so I knew that she recently had a baby. I assumed she'd be on mat leave and that she'd be there this morning. So instead of running, I did a 5k walk with her, since she can't run with her baby yet.  I commented that I feel like I don't really belong at races yet, and she said that she'd get me an Island Girls shirt, and that it will let people know "who I am". So... does that mean I'm in the club? That's it? One walk? No "shark bait - hoo ha ha" initiation? Awesome.

My foot is killing me. Apparently, I can run 9k no problem with my foot, but walking causes pain. Noted.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Funnies from Yesterday

Some things that Little Fox said that I found funny. One of them (the last one) is a little PG - so kids, have mom or dad read this first to be sure you are allowed to!

Naming his stuffed animals: "This is White Dog, that's Polar Bear, that one is Moosey, and that one is Timmy."

He was playing cars with Red Fox the other day, and they were sitting on the floor, rolling the cars back and forth between them. One of the cars hit in.. you know... down there, and he goes "Ooh! Right in the wedgie!". Oh... so THAT's what we're going to call that.

Parental guidance required:

Last night, just before bedtime story time: "All my animals are fockers". Um... WHAT did you just say??? Where did you hear that word? (please don't say mommy... please don't say mommy...) "I just made it up!"

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Running almost 10k

Red Fox checked my running distance just after I finished. It WAS 9k. From here to The Anne of Green Gables museum. In an hour.


I feel WAY better about the upcoming 10k race. I was worried that it would take me an hour and a half to run it, and that I'd come in last by a long shot. I don't mind coming last, but I don't want it to be embarrassingly last! I just want to finish, with a respectable time. Today's run was HARD. It was so windy that it was hard to breathe. I got sand blown in my face a few times, and my hat blew off. Eyes watering. The way back was a little better with the wind behind me, helping me. And honestly, the roads I run on are pretty hilly.

I also made my running board today, complete with my favorite Forrest Gump quote. Maybe someday it will be as full as my gymnastics one was!

Easter Weekend recap

OK. So. Long weekend. Long. So this post will probably be mostly pictures. I should save this for a wordless Wednesday post, but meh.

Dad arrived on Thursday, just as we were sitting down for a ... oh wait. I blogged this already. Coloring eggs and all that. It seems like oh-so-long-ago.

Moving on then, to Saturday. Mom and Scott arrived at about supper time on Saturday. After the boy's bed time, we all sat around and talked, drank wine and ate chocolate bars. Then we prepared for Easter morning and went to bed.

Easter Morning.
I see one!!!

After the fun of baskets, egg hunting and breakfast, I asked, very sweetly, if they would help us move our stuff in from the trailer. Thank God they said yes. So the trailer doors opened and furniture was moved. Mom and I moved old furniture out while the guys moved our stuff in. We stopped part way through for lunch.

Everything is now in the house. Scattered around willy-nilly (haha), but at least it is INSIDE. We have our bed set up, but the bedroom set won't fit easily in the room. Boo. The only way is to have the bed on an angle, with one bedside table in the window recess, and I still don't know where the dresser will fit.

I moved Little Fox's bedroom furniture, so now there's So much more room for activities.

We had ham for supper, with mom's baked beans and home made bread. 


We also had raisin cake that happened to have carrot in it. ("There isn't enough cake matrix surrounding the raisin grains to hold this cake conglomerate together" - my wine-induced geology-cake joke. This wasn't the only one. Not all of them geology related.)


Other than that...

The dogs played.

And slept.



Little Fox played and read and painted and coloured.




I finally got a picture of Red Fox with the sword I got him for Christmas.


AND I convinced Little Fox that home made chicken soup isn't disgusting and he finally tried it. Loved it. Actually asked for it again for supper.