I survived the Calgary Police Half Marathon...barely

Good news is that I'd say the weather actually turned out to be the best that it has been for this race in a very long time. It wasn't too cold and it wasn't too hot. There was minimal wind and minimal ice on the pathways. It was as close to perfection as you could get. Bad news is that my race was the furthest thing from being close to perfect as it could possibly be. I really did try my best, but having just gotten off of my iv on Monday and I am still taking oral antibiotics, I wasn't really sure what the effect of the medication would have on my system. Well...now I know that being on antibiotics increases your HR by a lot. I have yet to down load the info from my Garmin but I can tell you that my HR avg is in the upper 160's, which doesn't seem too bad, but if you consider my max HR (and I've been tested) is 172 then you can tell how hard my little wee heart had to work. Obviously, I didn't PR here today, but then again it wasn't my worst ever half marthon either and even if it was I would be okay with that. Sometimes it's not how you do, but that you went in there and tried and gave it your best despite the circumstances. Unfortunately, Trevor took the Garmin charger to Afghanistan, so I am unable to download the info, but I believe I got somewhere between 2:24 and 2:25. Anyways, I will look around for the back up charger and post the info as soon as I can.

back on the wagon

Today was the first day in 2 weeks that I have done any sort of exercise. I just did an hour and a half bike followed by a half an hour run. Part of me (the part that is getting used to being lazy) wanted to skip the workout, but the part of me that knows I need to get things back on track managed to overpower the other me...thank goodness. Despite the fact that I have done many long runs including an 18 miler prior to my injury, I must admit that I feel that I am far from being trained for tomorrows Police Half Marathon. Yeah I missed two weeks, but I am not an unfit person, so really it is in my head. It's funny how the things you say to yourself begin to overpower anything else. Having "the critic" on your shoulder telling you what you are doing wrong all the time and how you are going to fail is tough. You know what, little critic, I am going to have fun tomorrow despite the weather being far from ideal. I am going to reach my goals and I am going to do well and I am not going to listen to you anymore. A little segment from one of my favorite websites http://www.greatday.com/

Feel the way you choose

Whatever you feel on the inside, you will experience on the outside. Life reflects back to you the way you most sincerely and persistently are.

When you're having a joyful day it's because you've decided to do so. The world you see is directly related to the world you intend to see.

From nothing, in an instant, you can create joy. Where there was none before, you can express love.

Do you realize the awesome power in your ability to feel the way you choose to feel? With that power you can change the world.

You're extraordinarily skilled at changing your feelings, and you've had much experience at doing so. Feel the exquisite beauty of this moment, and watch as that beautiful feeling manifests in the world around you.

This is your moment to live more fully than you've ever lived. Feel the possibilities, and bring them joyfully to life.

-- Ralph Marston

Trevor is officially Afghanistan bound. He left yesterday evening and I miss him terribly already and it hasn't even been 24 hours. I suppose it doesn't help that the kids are not around today. I dropped them off at my mom's place just before lunch and will pick them up tomorrow after the race. The house is very quiet. I managed to pass some time by making a card for my friend who had a baby boy. Now it is just time to relax with my feet up and do some positive thinking.

I decorated the envelope as I didn't want it to be just a boring white envelope

Administrative Professional Week

All week we have been spoiled at the school. The parents and Student's Council had scheduled a wonderful week of treats for the staff of the school. It started out on Monday with a table full of treats for breakfast including a ton of carbs and fresh fruit. On Tuesday a buffet was given for lunch. We have a lot of parents that are East Indian, which meant that we had a lot of East Indian dishes prepared for us. It was superb. How lucky are we. Then on Wednesday we had a breakfast buffet again and today lunch. Today's lunch consisted of some more East Indian dishes as well as fresh sushi and a ton of cake (including scrumptious cheesecake). All of the staff got a gift of 2 pack of popable microwave popcorn, some licorice, and some chocolate as well as a movie pass for 2 and a group gift was given for the staffroom---a Tassimo machine....YEAH!! After lunch the Principal headed out of the office for some "errands" when she came back she had a beautiful bouquet of flowers for the secretary and I for "Administrative Professionals Week" along with a card that said "You are the greatest from staff at Renfrew"...how nice is that!! I LOVE my job. I feel so fortunate to work somewhere where I actually feel appreciated. Tomorrow the kid's have the day off and I have to go to work for half a day. Tomorrow night we drop Trevor off at the airport....sniff sniff :(

My bouquet of flowers

No more fanny packs----EVER AGAIN!!!

Finally back to work after a while off for mending my body back to health. Yesterday I had to go to yet another clinic to get my iv changed as it wasn't in properly and most of the meds ended up on my sleeve and not in my body. Once I got to the clinic they were very good about getting me in right away and changing my tubes and repositioning the iv. So I managed to get my final two doses in, which my body probably needed. I had an appointment at the clinic today so they could give me the nay or yeah to having the iv removed. As soon as I got there they took my blood pressure and it was my lowest yet at 90/60. They told me to have a seat as they thought I may pass out, but I was okay. The doctor checked me out and said that it looks much better and I just need to take some anti-biotics orally for another week and then I'll should be fully recovered. I asked them what they thought it was and they said bursitis. They said that it is more common to get inflammation, but less common to get an infection as bad as I had it. Needless to say, I am pleased that I am getting better and no longer have to pack around a fanny pack with an iv.

Tomorrow I am going to get slowly back into exercise. I think I will just start off with elliptical for a bit. This weekend I have a half marathon to do (Sunday-The Calgary Police Half). If you can believe it or not today we had 20 degs, tomorrow 21 degs, and Wednesday 8 degs and then Thursday O.. with a chance of SNOW!!!!! So race day forecast is 4 deg (Celsius) high (partly sunny with cold winds from the South)...sounds wonderful, doesn't it?? Man...I have no goals for this race, but just to finish and stay warm. This year I am racing alone as Hubby is of on business to...(apparently I am not supposed to say where he is off to until he gets there....ooohhhh the surprise). He is away till May 13th, which means no Mother's Day Festivities for me....hmmm maybe I should take the kids to the mall, so they can get me a present...that's a brilliant idea....

Happy 11th Anniversary

Today is our 11th anniversary and we still are best friends. Honestly I feel so lucky to have Trevor for a hubby...Thanks for being my best friend!!

Could this be little man's calling?

Today is the day the Simon has been waiting for since February. I finally was able to be "Teacher for a Day". The auction item which he won during the school online auction. He put on his suit and tie and was so proud. I was able to go see him in action working with "his students" and teaching them new words. It was a very proud moment for me. Of course I had my camera with me and took a couple of pictures and of course video.

Make a Smilebox postcard

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Don't worry I am not blogging during working hours because that would be BAD. I think I mention in a previous blog about a little boo boo I had on my elbow. Let me start from the very beginning. Last Wednesday, April 8th I had a zit on my elbow. It was kind of tender, but I just thought it was maybe that way cause it was in an unusual spot. No big deal. I had my long bike and long run on the weekend and then the good old elbow started getting more tender and bruised. Whatever...I was in aero position forever on bike so I figured that was what it was from. Monday I went to work and I noticed that it was getting more swollen and sore as the day went on. I went to the clinic Monday just to be told there was a four hour wait. So I decided I'd go home and come back. I called when I was at around 3 hours to check if my time was getting close only to discover that the clinic closed...NICE!! Tuesday rolls around....Elbow is now very swollen and looks like crap. I went to anther mediclinic closer to school and was in and out very quickly. The doctor didn't even look at it or ask any questions...just handed me the prescription. 24 hours later swelling doubled and pain tripled. Needless to say I was off to the ER yesterday. They luckily got me in pretty quick and got me going on an intravenous. I went to the Infectious Disease Centre this morning and they gave me more intravenous meds which I am dragging around in a fanny pack. I am back at the clinic tomorrow to see if it's getting any better or worse. It looks like I may be dragging around my IV fanny pack well into next week...Funny...all started from a zit on the elbow and now I am at home with an IV.

Feeling blue

I think the toll of eating too much this weekend has taken a toll on me. I had to get up early, but not too early. At school the breakfast club was making something special for everyone to eat at 9am, so I managed to get to school early (an hour early to be exact)so that I could take the Easter decorations down. After eating breakfast all the teachers and office staff headed over to our "new" campus to take another look at our offices and classrooms to determine what we need to order. The office I currently reside in is pretty small, no windows, and is in the corner. Kind of a lonely room. At the new campus I was supposed to move in a nice spacious office right at the front office. Unfortunately/fortunately Instead I got moved to an even bigger office with a window that is just a hop, skip and jump away from the main offices. Want to hear something crazy...I have my very own bathroom :) Man, I was not expecting that. Currently the principal of that school stays in that office, but he very much feels out of the loop and suggested that our principal, my boss, move into the off which I was supposed to have in order to stay connected.

Training has been put into a slight damper as I have small injury on my elbow. It looks super tiny and I probably look like a sissy to Trevor. It looks like I have a zit on the tip of my elbow, which I noticed last Thursday. Since then it has gotten really red and it looks like there may be water under it and may possibly be infected. I did go to the doctor's after work today, but after being told that it was a four hour wait I left. Tomorrow I have a bike (one hour and 15 mins - moderate intensity). This week I will have good training week despite my teeny weeny injury.

Hippity-Hoppity

glitter-graphics.com

Easter Bunny has been BUSY

The kids have hinted a few times that they have been wanting to have an Easter Egg Hunt. I wasn't sure if I was up for the challenge, but after reading Running Man's comment I realized that this would be a great tradition to start and I probably don't have too many years left to do it as they won't be believers of Mr. E. Bunny for too many years to come. I began the process on Friday and hit good old Wal-Mart. Trevor and I decided that we didn't want to pump the kid's full of chocolate and decided to just get them a few pieces. We thought it would be a better idea just to get them a Nintendo DS game each, which is exactly what I did. Friday night following our outing at the movies to watch "Hannah Montana The Movie" and after the kid's were tucked away in bed I began coming up with clues for the hunt. I think I probably worked on it for an hour and half and came up these ten clues (some of them are pretty cheezey, but the kids are only 6 and 8):

CLUE #1

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

This is where you go

When Brushing teeth is what you do.

CLUE #2

I just arrived…something that is new.

Look inside the blue box for a treat

for just you two.

CLUE #3

C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C these are some notes you can play on me.

It’s been a while since you played the , but play

a song and you will find me.

CLUE #4

Do you like to run races?

Well put on your running shoes, but don’t tie your laces.

Then you’ll find something that’ll

Give you smiley faces

CLUE #5

Eating-Eating is something you love to do.

Look inside your lunch kit and you’ll find something

Just for you.

CLUE #6

Homework is never fun to do, but the place you put

It when it’s done is the place you should

Look for a little fun

CLUE #7

Hoping to find something that’s really neat?

Go outside where the birds like to eat

CLUE #8

The newspaper goes inside this box.

Look inside and you will find something

That really rocks

CLUE #9

There is a vase underneath the picture of the family.

Look inside and you’ll find something

That is super crazy

CLUE #10

This is the final clue

Wet clothes get dried in these type of machines.

I hope you had fun and always remember what

Easter really means J

After spending the afternoon/evening at my parent's place we came home and played some games with the kids and then we put them to bed and started hiding the clues. I can't wait till tomorrow as I think they will have a blast.

Tomorrow after church we are off to Trevor's parent's place for some more food. Man alive...I love food and after this weekend I am going to really have to buckle down on what I put in my mouth. My half marathon is coming up here pretty darn quick. Only 2 weeks away....tomorrow is only 1 hr and 20 on the bike, so that's not too bad...I better get to bed....

It's been so long since I've posted that...

I have actually forgotten that I have changed the look of my blog. Man..life is super crazy busy at work and my days are just flying by. Yesterday the school secretary was away at a course, which meant that I had to cover my position as well as hers and man it was CRAZY!!! I had my first bite of lunch at 2:00 pm and then the kids came into the office just after 3 pm and next thing you know they pillaged through the rest of my lunch sack and that was it for me...a sandwich. Oh well...

BIG NEWS....Susan is NOT a morning person. I have adjusted quite nicely to getting up at 5:45am to get ready and leave the house at 6:30am for work, but getting up at 4am so I can work out before is just plain NUTS, so after weeks of trying this out and failing I have decided that I am not even going to waste my time and attempt getting up early. This is usually how it goes down...alarm goes of and I tell Trevor that I slept like crap and I will do my exercise in the evening and then I end up going to back to sleep till 5:45am and I do my workout in the evening. So the question is why do I even attempt to get up early...why don't I just face the fact that I am not a "morning" person and save the workouts for the evening. This is it....Susan is now an evening exerciser. Some days mornings will still be the only time available, but once in awhile it'll be okay...I will survive.

My Goodness...my goodness...the children seem to think that the Easter Bunny is going to set up some huge Eater Egg Hunt, but the "Easter Bunny" has yet to buy any treats never mind plan a good egg hunt...any ideas for some fun Easter Egg hunts???? I really want to make it fun for them. I don't think they have too many years of Easter Egg hunts.

Well....off to watch the rest of Biggest Loser and then bed time. Tomorrow I have a final in Applied Movement Mechanics. Not too stressed about it because if everything goes wrong tomorrow and I end up with 0% on the final then I will still pass the course...yeah...I am so busy at work that part of me doesn't even want to go and write it, but that would be wrong...Okay...Susan is off to bed....