Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Roast Kitty
According to the Magna-Temp, it is 27 degrees in my kitchen and 30 degrees in my bedroom, and the cats are feeeeeeling it... They are twisted up into strange shapes, trying to get cool.
Check out this bizarre pose by Bella:
Yes, she is sitting like a human, on her butt with hind legs in front and front paws on her lap.
Check out this bizarre pose by Bella:
Yes, she is sitting like a human, on her butt with hind legs in front and front paws on her lap.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Done and done
Hey! I did it! Did you see me? I was the one in pink who looked like she was having a root canal without anesthetic in the last km! And guess what. My time? I ran it on the treadmill (downhill) in 38 minutes, so I was hoping to race it in 40 min, as that would be a slight improvement, what with hills, crowds, etc. Welllll.... my time was 31:07! I was very happy. And I didn't walk ever. And it was soooooooooo hot* that I felt that I might puke for about the last 3 K.
6276 people ran the 5 K, and I was 1279th, so that means nearly 5000 people finished after me. YAY!!!! I was 457th out of the women, and if you assume that it was evenly split (?I have no idea if that's a safe assumption... maybe not actually), then that is pretty acceptable.
Whoo hoo!!!
It was a neat experience. So many people, which meant so many spectators! It was a little crazy at first, 6200 people jammed into Elgin Street, but it got better once I blew past everyone and busted out into the lead. Ha! Kidding.**
A bit of a funny thing... When I was about 1 K from the end I was feeling rough and so I started trying to think positive thoughts. I started to send good, positive energy to Rae so that she might feel better, and then I thought, "Sorry love, I need it right now. I promise I'll send it to you at the end of the race." :-) ***
And the best part is the money that you all donated. I am very happy that we were able to raise a bit of money for the Ottawa Rotary Home which provides respite care to kids with disabilities.**** I reached 50 % of my fundraising goal, but it was short notice and every bit helps the kids. As well, nearly 50 new people now know about the ORH. Thank you so much for your help and support. It means a lot to me.
Now I'm off to a bubble bath.
xoxo
* OK OK, 25 isn't THAT hot, but it's still hot - and it's a humid, muggy heat.... just kidding it always makes me laugh when people talk about the cold in Ottawa "well, it's a damp cold, goes right to your bones" as if that makes it far more heroic that we bear it. :-)
** Really Kim? You were kidding? I totally believed you.
*** So now, as promised, I'm sending tons and tons of good thoughts and energy to Rae, extra even, that she will feel tip top very soon.
****To make a pledge, click here and let me know by email so we can count it in the tally.
6276 people ran the 5 K, and I was 1279th, so that means nearly 5000 people finished after me. YAY!!!! I was 457th out of the women, and if you assume that it was evenly split (?I have no idea if that's a safe assumption... maybe not actually), then that is pretty acceptable.
Whoo hoo!!!
It was a neat experience. So many people, which meant so many spectators! It was a little crazy at first, 6200 people jammed into Elgin Street, but it got better once I blew past everyone and busted out into the lead. Ha! Kidding.**
A bit of a funny thing... When I was about 1 K from the end I was feeling rough and so I started trying to think positive thoughts. I started to send good, positive energy to Rae so that she might feel better, and then I thought, "Sorry love, I need it right now. I promise I'll send it to you at the end of the race." :-) ***
And the best part is the money that you all donated. I am very happy that we were able to raise a bit of money for the Ottawa Rotary Home which provides respite care to kids with disabilities.**** I reached 50 % of my fundraising goal, but it was short notice and every bit helps the kids. As well, nearly 50 new people now know about the ORH. Thank you so much for your help and support. It means a lot to me.
Now I'm off to a bubble bath.
xoxo
* OK OK, 25 isn't THAT hot, but it's still hot - and it's a humid, muggy heat.... just kidding it always makes me laugh when people talk about the cold in Ottawa "well, it's a damp cold, goes right to your bones" as if that makes it far more heroic that we bear it. :-)
** Really Kim? You were kidding? I totally believed you.
*** So now, as promised, I'm sending tons and tons of good thoughts and energy to Rae, extra even, that she will feel tip top very soon.
****To make a pledge, click here and let me know by email so we can count it in the tally.
I got my bib on, my shoes are shined, and I'm off to the races...
I'm about to head over to "run for Rae". Her and her dad were intending to be at the finish line but unfortunately she's not feeling well and is spending the day in the hospital on IV. So, I'm sending her lots of love and good energy while I run in her honor.Given the status of the stickers on my calendar I gave myself two treats today:
1) For getting to the gym every weekday for an entire month, I got a pair of Lulumon running shorts.
2) For getting up early to go to the gym everyday BEFORE work this week, hence completely obliterating CBC time (I didn't listen to the CBC for 5 days STRAIGHT. I know. The sky nearly fell.) I bought myself a pocket radio that actually tunes and can find the CBC (unlike my prior ones). And because I always end up leaving the radio on until the bat runs out, I also bought a battery charger and batteries.
Treats!!! It was fun. And I deserved it.
And you know what else I deserve? This running skort (link removed). I loved it and nearly bought it. But, reason prevailed - even though I do look very cute and sporty in it, they only had small and I wanted a medium, plus I couldn't justify it (especially for something that I only wear to run and I'd have to buy a top to match and costs $55 and I don't even run but I want the bling skort...) and opted for the more practical and versatile black Lulumons. Sigh.
Anyways, the capital was abuzz this morning with heaps of people walking around with the orange and white plastic ING Direct bags containing race kits, and snatches of conversations about gel packs and "how many k's" were wafting over downtown.
I went to pick up my race kit last night, and it was amazing. There are around 30,000 people running, and yet it took me less than 5 minutes to go to 3 stations to pick up my race kit. Amazingly well organized. You have never seen so many fit people in all your life, wandering around the expo of related booths... I was hoping that no one would notice that I'm a big huge faker. :-) :-) :-)
Alright, I'm outta here. I have my good luck rock and my pink bandana, and I'm off to the races... :-) Tee hee....
Friday, May 26, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Reading Now
Generation X
by Douglas CouplandGreat quotes so far come from the sidebar definitions which supposedly define this generation. For example:
Anti-Sabbatical: A job taken with the sole intention of staying only for a limited period of time (often one year). The intention is usually to raise enough funds to partake in another, more personally meaningful activity such as watercolor sketching in Crete or designing computer knit sweaters in Hong Kong. Employers are rarely informed of intentions.
Poverty Jet Set: A group of people given to chronic traveling at the expense of long-term job stability or a permanent residence. Tend to have doomed and extremely expensive phone call relationships with people named Serge or Ilyana. Tend to discuss frequent flier programs at parties.
I especially like the blue part of that last one...
Captivating
That's what I think when I think about reading The White Bone by Barbara Gowdy. I have never read her before, and had no conscious intention to, but when I saw this book in my favorite used store and read the back I was enchanted. The entire story is from the perspective of elephants. When I thought about it later and realized the incredible culture that Gowdy created around the elephants, I am blown away. She obviously did piles of research, but it never takes on an iota of that feeling. It all seems so natural, yet the persepective is so completely different than ours. Extraordinarily, she makes you almost understand how the smell or taste of the dung or urine of a friend or relative could be blissful. She takes you into the thoughts and the out-of-control urges of females and males during mating. She allows you to effortlessly experience the culture of their matriarchy and the roles and daily rhythms. It sounds bizarre, I know, but she really is an extraordinary writer.The story is of the elephants' search for a magical white bone, which is the rib bone of a newborn elephant. This bone, when found, will direct the elephants to The Safe Place where there are no humans slaughtering them and sawing of their tusks, no drought, no hunger. The book tracks a number of main characters and their journey around the landscape, most importantly Mud and Tall Time (a cow and a bull elephant).
The story had a kind of dreamy quality, and I was captivated and enchanted throughout. The extent of the perspective shift that the reader experiences in this book is remarkable, and yet occurs so naturally and effortlessly that I honestly completely forgot that it wasn't elephants telling the story, that this was a product of an imagination - that she had to construct it. It just seemed so real....
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Big Brother*
Harper says he's finished with Ottawa press corps
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he'll no longer give news conferences for the national media...Link
-----------------------------------
How rich. :-) Yes, PM Harper, just do away with that pesky press! Perhaps you could write the articles yourself. Oh wait... you already tried that and went through 4 Press Secretaries... :-)
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Brother_%281984%29
Running Just as Fast as I Can...
The gym was all abuzz this morning with talk of the National Capital Race Weekend, and especially the marathon. Apparently there will be over 30 000 participants, and it is "Canada's largest running event." It was nice, it got me a bit energized and excited about my fundraising 5 k on Saturday (part of the race weekend).
Getting up this morning was difficult. Yesterday and today I have actually gotten up before work and gone to the gym. This is monumental for me, as I mentioned. I have set my alarm millions of times in my life to get up early to work out and failed 99.9999% of those times. In fact I can't ever remember actually doing it. Until yesterday. I got up and did a workout before work both days now!
Anyways, it's not easy but it's happening. This morning I found my run hard, and had to slow down and walk for a minute, twice. Normally I don't walk during my time on the treadmill. Anyways, I got through it, and ran about 3.7 km in 30 minutes, which is not substantially worse than when I don't walk (just call me Speedy Gonzalles, not...) so whatever. Though to be fair, I did increase the incline on the treadmill today*.
As I was stretching at the end I was eavesdropping (as always) on the other people as they talked about the upcoming race weekend, and their upcoming marathons. I was secretly giggling, as I had just finished my teeny-tiny little 3.7 k and feeling a bit sorry for my sad tired self, as they discussed how their IronMan marathon times are pretty close to their regular marathon times despite having just finished a 3.8 km swim and a 180 km bike before running their full marathon of 26.2 mile (42 km). You know, the legs are warmed up by then.
Huh! My legs felt like crap during my run this morning. Maybe I should try that!
Sponsor me in my run info here
*Thanks to the advice of a guru.
Getting up this morning was difficult. Yesterday and today I have actually gotten up before work and gone to the gym. This is monumental for me, as I mentioned. I have set my alarm millions of times in my life to get up early to work out and failed 99.9999% of those times. In fact I can't ever remember actually doing it. Until yesterday. I got up and did a workout before work both days now!
Anyways, it's not easy but it's happening. This morning I found my run hard, and had to slow down and walk for a minute, twice. Normally I don't walk during my time on the treadmill. Anyways, I got through it, and ran about 3.7 km in 30 minutes, which is not substantially worse than when I don't walk (just call me Speedy Gonzalles, not...) so whatever. Though to be fair, I did increase the incline on the treadmill today*.
As I was stretching at the end I was eavesdropping (as always) on the other people as they talked about the upcoming race weekend, and their upcoming marathons. I was secretly giggling, as I had just finished my teeny-tiny little 3.7 k and feeling a bit sorry for my sad tired self, as they discussed how their IronMan marathon times are pretty close to their regular marathon times despite having just finished a 3.8 km swim and a 180 km bike before running their full marathon of 26.2 mile (42 km). You know, the legs are warmed up by then.
Huh! My legs felt like crap during my run this morning. Maybe I should try that!
Sponsor me in my run info here
*Thanks to the advice of a guru.
Monday, May 22, 2006
For animal lovers
Check out the video of this puppy who walks on her hind legs like a human because she basically was born with no front legs. Obviously this made me cry...
Go to this link and then click on "Watch Faith the Dog Walk" for the video. It's very sweet.
It's Not Right
Shelter: We need to talk to you about Bella. There are some issues we need to discuss.Me: OK...
S: The vet checked her, and she does not have an infection. The peeing outside her box is behavioural.
Me: Oh!
S: That means we have two options. She cannot be adopted out. Which means she would be euthenized.
Me: Ugh!
S: The other option is that you could adopt her as a rescue.
M: So if I don't adopt her she will be put to sleep.
S: Yes.
Reading for the past week or so...
This book is amazing. It's told from the perspective of elephants. Her writing is just amazing.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Today I added something extra to my workout - the real world. I ran outside today (how novel) instead of on the treadmill watching What Not to Wear. Yes, the real world, with it's pesky bumps and hills, and more hills... I ran for 30 min straight, but I'm curious to see how far I went. I'd guess 3.5 K. So, my new goal for the 5K is to finish in under 45 min (why yes, that is me to the right - a big pink pansy!).
Amazing Race Final Episode
Imagine if you watched most of the season of The Amazing Race, and you were really looking forward to the last episode to see if the hippies (who you had called on the first episode) won, and just when the last leg of the race was starting and it was all down to this last few minutes to win the million dollars, suddenly the tape stopped because you had forgotten to reset the timer on the VCR to record the two-hour final episode and so it only taped the first hour? And so you are left reading washed up bloggers' descriptions of what happened and who won*? Yeah, that would suck. Imagine.
* Yay! The hippies won!
* Yay! The hippies won!
The 'net is gud-timez
Sacred Destinations
""Vacation time is nearing; many of us would like to visit exotic places. What is more exotic than the thousands of sites that hold great importance to the world's different faiths and religions. Developed by Holly Hayes, 'a graduate student in religious history, who loves to travel,' Sacred Destinations 'currently profiles more than 1,000 sacred sites in 31 countries and provides many additional related articles, such as glossaries, biographies, histories, maps, photo galleries, and visitor guides to major cities.'""
(Not my words. Link sent to me.)
""Vacation time is nearing; many of us would like to visit exotic places. What is more exotic than the thousands of sites that hold great importance to the world's different faiths and religions. Developed by Holly Hayes, 'a graduate student in religious history, who loves to travel,' Sacred Destinations 'currently profiles more than 1,000 sacred sites in 31 countries and provides many additional related articles, such as glossaries, biographies, histories, maps, photo galleries, and visitor guides to major cities.'""
(Not my words. Link sent to me.)
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
GYM: Is The Bloom Fading?
So I made it through two weeks of every (week)day to the gym. But I think now is when the true test begins. The shine is wearing off a bit as the novelty fades. Those who know me know that I am a novelty-junkie. I start new classes and courses all the time and then move onto the next one before I have mastered the previous (For example? Spanish Shmanish! I need to learn Arabic!!! Oh! and knitting? Stay tuned for the pics of my two-year old knitting project - it's a scarf. After two years, it's approximately 2 inches long. But it's curly. and holesy. and bumpy. and misshapen. But flat, uniform, shapely, hole-free knitted scarves are overrated.) *
Yesterday morning (Monday morning) I nearly fell back to old habits. I burrowed back under my covers, "listened to the radio" (read: slept in), then tardily rolled out of bed and was slowly being sucked into the abyss of surfing the day away (and not in the bikini and sun-soaked physical activity kinda way...). Luckily I snapped out of it and did head to the gym. (It's all about them sparkly happyface stickers on the calendar...) I ended up doing a good workout though, increasing my weight on all exercises (me like Ahhhnold) except one, which I increased the num
ber of reps for instead (I am a spaghetti-armed pansy at the overhead press). So I felt awesome after, but wow did I almost succumb. This morning however, I did get up and made it there in time for a 9am (I know!!) class. It was a core strengthening class with the balls (large and small). Those little bastards really give you a workout - I get tired just trying not to fall off, let alone doing the impossible exercises on top of it. My abs are in tears already, and it's not even the next day yet. It was awesome though, I was really impressed. I'm so sad now that after just having found the class, I won't be able to do it any more due to a temp position I will likely be starting next week. I know. Damn wage-earning getting in the way of my six-pack dreams. *wink* (Though it is definitely time for my credit cards to lose a little girth!)
So my next plan is to start going to the gym before work. "Ha! Ha-ha!" says you who knows me. For Ms. Kim is not a morning girl, to put it mildly. I cannot even tell you the ridiculous number of times in my life that I have set my alarm to go to the gym before class or work. I laugh at that 6 am alarm clock, snickering at the naive psychopath who continually sets it the nig
ht before, gym clothes laid out for the morning. But this time? This time I need to do it. I don't want to lose this habit, and the only time it makes sense (Ha! Ya right. Makes sense the way nuclearastrofission calculus makes sense) is the morning. Besides, I have committed to running a 5K fundraiser in 11 days, so I need to go so I that don't die on the asphalt in front of my fans.** So, I think I deserve double stickers on the days when I get up and go before work. Stickers? I deserve a freakin Porsche if I get up and go to the gym at that ungodly hour. Anyways, there it is. I am determined this time. Pray for me as you press your snooze button.
* Though the novelty may have worn down a bit, I am still really enjoying getting to the gym and I'm still really motivated and excited about it. I fell so much better these days!
**Today I ran 4K in 30 minutes, which theoretically means roughly 38 minutes for 5 K. I'd really like to cut that down. Can I do that in 11 days? Anyone know these things? Dad, Verle???
Yesterday morning (Monday morning) I nearly fell back to old habits. I burrowed back under my covers, "listened to the radio" (read: slept in), then tardily rolled out of bed and was slowly being sucked into the abyss of surfing the day away (and not in the bikini and sun-soaked physical activity kinda way...). Luckily I snapped out of it and did head to the gym. (It's all about them sparkly happyface stickers on the calendar...) I ended up doing a good workout though, increasing my weight on all exercises (me like Ahhhnold) except one, which I increased the num
ber of reps for instead (I am a spaghetti-armed pansy at the overhead press). So I felt awesome after, but wow did I almost succumb. This morning however, I did get up and made it there in time for a 9am (I know!!) class. It was a core strengthening class with the balls (large and small). Those little bastards really give you a workout - I get tired just trying not to fall off, let alone doing the impossible exercises on top of it. My abs are in tears already, and it's not even the next day yet. It was awesome though, I was really impressed. I'm so sad now that after just having found the class, I won't be able to do it any more due to a temp position I will likely be starting next week. I know. Damn wage-earning getting in the way of my six-pack dreams. *wink* (Though it is definitely time for my credit cards to lose a little girth!)So my next plan is to start going to the gym before work. "Ha! Ha-ha!" says you who knows me. For Ms. Kim is not a morning girl, to put it mildly. I cannot even tell you the ridiculous number of times in my life that I have set my alarm to go to the gym before class or work. I laugh at that 6 am alarm clock, snickering at the naive psychopath who continually sets it the nig
ht before, gym clothes laid out for the morning. But this time? This time I need to do it. I don't want to lose this habit, and the only time it makes sense (Ha! Ya right. Makes sense the way nuclearastrofission calculus makes sense) is the morning. Besides, I have committed to running a 5K fundraiser in 11 days, so I need to go so I that don't die on the asphalt in front of my fans.** So, I think I deserve double stickers on the days when I get up and go before work. Stickers? I deserve a freakin Porsche if I get up and go to the gym at that ungodly hour. Anyways, there it is. I am determined this time. Pray for me as you press your snooze button.* Though the novelty may have worn down a bit, I am still really enjoying getting to the gym and I'm still really motivated and excited about it. I fell so much better these days!
**Today I ran 4K in 30 minutes, which theoretically means roughly 38 minutes for 5 K. I'd really like to cut that down. Can I do that in 11 days? Anyone know these things? Dad, Verle???
Proof That Cats Are Smarter Than Dogs*
The other day KD was walking past the living room and heard the forbidden sound of Coal scratching the arm of the couch. He stepped into the room with a stern "Coal!", whereupon Coal, in one svelte movement gracefully sidestepped to his scratching post and posed in "scratching pose", looking innocently back at KD like "What?!".
*Except Flick.
*Except Flick.
I’m gonna run for Rae! Can you help?
Rae has cerebral palsy and dystonia – conditions which affect her muscles, negating their function. She uses a wheelchair and requires 24-hour care, needing 100% assistance with e
ating, grooming, bathing, schoolwork, and medications. Rae’s mental faculties are perfect. In mind and spirit she is like any twenty year old – it is only her body that does not respond to her. In addition to her physical care, her dad devotes hours to facilitating her other needs. He is her hands; she dictates projects or homework answers while he types for her. Rae is very particular and knows her own mind - the work is all Rae’s. As well, despite their many challenges, together he and Rae take in movies and plays, go to the park, visit family, and a million other things. Their time together is always filled with laughter and fun.
Once every six weeks, Rae spends one week at the Ottawa Rotary Home. The Rotary Home provides respite care to families of Eastern Ontario who have a child with a physical disability. The Rotary Home is a bright, spacious bungalow with 11 beds, specially trained staff and nursing care, and special activities that make the time special for the children while their parents get a break. The week provides her parents with a well-deserved rest from her constant care, while giving Rae a much-loved chance to socialize with her peers and get a taste of independence from mom and dad.
Says the Rotary Home web site:
Caring for a dependent family member can be a rewarding, life-enriching experience. It can also, at times, be tedious, exhausting, and stressful. One way caregivers, people with the every-day responsibility of caring for a dependent individual, can decrease the exhaustion and stress is to ensure periods of time away from their care-giving responsibilities.
I have twice visited Rae at the Rotary Home during her stay and was incredibly impressed. The staff are loving, kind, skilled, and committed. They love the kids and provide such an excellent level of care – medical, physical, and emotional.