Author Archives: Terri

Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin…

Posted on November 16, 2007 | Comments Off

Thank you, Steve Miller 😉

I spent about an hour in my stitching room last night. Digging out. Straightening up. Throwing away. My space has become a dungeon with a very narrow path from the door to my desk and from my desk to the puppies’ bed. You know how skinny the puppies are? Well they bump into things on the way to their bed. That’s how narrow the path has become. And it’s rather frightening to think of what is there that I might actually need.

Anyway, I tuned into a jazz radio station on iTunes and grabbed an empty trash bag and just started dealing with the piles. I’m starting with my sewing station. Once I get it cleared off it’ll give me some more organizing space, which I desperately need right now. I want to get my sewing machine and cutting mats, etc., set up there so I can use the shelf space currently being taken up by them to store some quilts. They’re currently stored all over the place and it’s bugging me.

Part of me was so sad to see how neglected some of my stitching has become. I found a project, still on qsnaps, and covered in dust. I don’t even remember putting the project in there. I took it off, shook off the dust and packed it away with the once dust-covered pattern. I know where the other projects are, but if you were to point at a particular zipper bag I could no longer tell you what it held. Didn’t use to be that way.

While I am stitching again, I can’t yet say I’ve been bitten by the stitching bug again. It’s more like getting reacquainted with a long lost friend. You sit and talk with them and in the back of your mind you’re trying to figure out why you lost touch with them. I don’t yet see myself revisiting the stitching forums I used to spend all day on. I don’t yet see myself going to any type of stitching retreats. I don’t yet see myself spending tons of money on new stash, however, I have signed back up for a couple of newsletters that I unsubbed from many ages ago.

I have been thinking about the two huge boxes of stash that I need to sell. I have been thinking about the 4 BR house Kahuna and I want that will include a stitching room for me and a man space for him. I have been thinking about the various items I have started and getting in contact with a couple of people to get the finishing done once I finish the stitching portion. Does that mean I’m getting back to that part of my former self?

While I used to whine that there wasn’t enough time in the day – which completely revolved around sitting and stitching till my butt was numb – I still feel that way, only now it’s because I want time to run, swim, bike, and stitch without feeling guilty about the time spent doing any of those things.

I downloaded my triathlon training plan for the next 5 months. It starts the Thursday after Thanksgiving, which gives me 1 week of “recovery” after my first race. I’m still planning on running the Carlsbad 5000 in April, and then almost a month later the triathlon. I can’t wait for it to hurry up and get here!

However, I also want time to slow since I’m starting to get that knotted feeling in my stomach when I think about how fast June will get here. How funny, when this time just a year ago I was eagerly looking forward to this coming June. To moving to a new state and finding my forever home. Living close to family, but no friends. And now, I dread it’s approach. Am I borrowing sorrow? Maybe, but when it comes to the promises of the Marine Corps, I haven’t fared very well over the past 26 years, so I’m a bit untrustful.

I’m so glad it’s Friday. I ended up having to work late last night so missed my swim. Today is an “off” training day except for some core strength training tonight. I’m leaving work early since I have an ortho surgeon appt for my elbow. I fully intend on him saying absolutely nothing that he hasn’t said before and am thankful I don’t have to pay for the appointments; however, I intend to push a bit this time since if I do have to have surgery, I need to get it done while Kahuna is still here to drive me home from the hospital. I also need to take my car in for a smog check so I can renew my DMV stuff.

I imagine the rest of the weekend will be just as busy. I have a 2 mile run Saturday morning and swim drills some time that day. Sunday is another 2 mile run, WW, and grocery shopping (I’ve decided to cook Thursday, after the race) and sometime in those two days I need to find some new swim goggles and a bike helmet, finish the laundry, get my guest room ready for Wednesday, and maybe work some more in my dungeon.

I’m so glad I’m off 5 days next week 😉

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Posted in Races, Stitching

Support your local triathlon/triathlete

Posted on November 14, 2007 | Comments Off

NY Times article…..It doesn’t cost you anything to clap, people! Except maybe the cost of getting out of bed earlier than the norm.

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Posted in Races

Here's to 3-day weekends!

Posted on November 13, 2007 | Comments Off

I need to figure out how to get 3-day weekends every weekend. I can honestly say this was the best weekend I’ve had in a very long time. I don’t know if it was because Kahuna returned on Saturday afternoon, or because of the shopping, stitching, housecleaning, DVD or TV watching I did, but it was great!

Saturday – I got up and started really early on the housecleaning. My kitchen and dining room were in desperate need of a dust and scrub. Kahuna touched down at the airport around 10. He didn’t get home until almost noon, just as I was finishing the kitchen. That’s how bad the traffic was headed north. The puppies were soooo excited to see him! I spent the rest of the afternoon catching up with him and doing the laundry he was so kind to bring me, then we ended up going out to dinner at a seafood place just up the road from us. We never can remember why we don’t go there often, because the food is great, until we get the bill! LOL

Sunday – Kahuna went surfing and I went to WW. I gained 4+# but am not surprised. I could not stop eating Friday and Saturday. My leader says my body will probably do that every now and then since I’ve ramped up my exercise. The rest of the day was spent getting the majority of the laundry done while I stitched and watched TV. Since being able to go without my wrist braces during the day, I can stitch comfortably now and thoroughly enjoyed doing so while the puppies took turns fighting over who was going to help me.

Monday – Kahuna back out surfing, I went running. Then I went to the grocery store while he went for a LSD run. After some lunch we headed out. First stop was to get my car detailed. Then we headed out shopping. Believe it or not I needed floss to finish a project, then we went hunting for running gloves, skull cap for Kahuna to keep his nekkid head warm while cycling, a stop at Trader Joe’s for some FAGE (I’d love to say that’s all I bought but I am weak in that store! LOL). On the way home we stopped by the 24 Hour Fitness closest to us and went in for a tour. We (I) were really hooked when we found out they had a saltwater pool that’s open 24 hours. We’re now members 🙂 I’m nervous and excited about that.

I’ve never been a member of a fitness club. I know practically nothing about working out in one and can’t wait to learn. I’ll have about 7 months to get trained by Kahuna, because it looks like they’re sending him to Iraq in June. This is one of the reasons why I decided I wanted to do triathlons. It’s a great social sporting event and I knew I’d make some local friends while staying healthy and motivated while Kahuna was gone. I am hoping membership at a fitness center will help do the same thing. Give me something productive to do instead of sit home depressed and eat the whole time he’s gone.

Reading back over this it sounds like we were super busy, but everything was at a slow, take our time, pace and I really didn’t feel like we were out doing a bunch of stuff. I was rested for work this morning, but still didn’t want to come in.

So, here’s to more 3-day weekends. Hope yours was equally great.

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Posted in Fitness, Stitching

I'm trying to stay cheerful today.

Posted on November 8, 2007 | Comments Off

Today is our son’s birthday. He’s not a little boy anymore, but a man of 23 years. I sent him a card, and tried to call him this morning. He doesn’t have voicemail. Since he moved in April we only ever hear from him if he needs something. Usually money, or something to do with the vehicle that’s still in Kahuna’s name. Anyway, this is the first year that I haven’t given him a gift of some sort, including money. I thought long and hard about it and over the past year we’ve given him a lot of money, so we decided to not gift him. Today, I’m fighting the guilt over that. I don’t know why I feel this way. I cannot remember the last time I got a card from my parents. Or a gift. I do usually get a phonecall, though.

I thought about going out to dinner, by myself, tonight to celebrate his birth, but I remembered I’m swimming tonight and don’t want to have to go home, do hair and makeup, then head out again. Yes, I’m lazy. Actually I’m pooped after swimming.

Speaking of which, I really like my coach. He’s a triathlete. Tuesday night’s swim went really well. I was a bit alarmed at first because he was teaching a 3-4 year old little boy to jump off the side of the pool and swim to the side by instructing him to “chicken wings, superman, rocket ship.” I could not imagine what terms he was going to use with me to get me from one end of the pool to the other.

Anyway, I was first pleasantly surprised to find the pool is saltwater. Then I was relieved to find out I was not going to have to jump off the side of the pool and chicken, super, rocket whatever. When he asked me what I wanted out of my lessons he made me feel a lot more comfortable (not) when he told me he was going to unlearn me from everything I’ve done in the past and teach me the new way of swimming. I swear I swam to Mexico and back. His comments after my umpteenth time to the deep end, where I was treading water for my life, were that I swam really well and have a powerhouse kick, but we need to get rid of that since I’m not swimming a sprint, I’m going for long distance.

The one thing I accomplished was being reminded how to breath. Exhaling under water, inhaling above. There were a few times I got it backward while trying to remember to only kick twice between 3 strokes, and then to make each stroke’s rhythm the same as two, or something like that. (When I tried to dry my hair at home – with my head upside down – water poured out of my nose – TMI?).

I was one tired puppy when I got home, and then of course I had to beat off the puppies with cookies. I barely made it through The Biggest Loser.

Driving home I remembered where the 24 Hour Fitness is that Kahuna and I want to check out. We probably shouldn’t join. It’s by the In and Out Burger and Cold Stone and those other evil type places. I can just see us trying to talk the other out of a double double or single scoop. I wonder if their pool is saltwater?

I get to do it all over again tonight! Woohoo! And then I’m going to go home, try to call Son again, and stitch. Yes, I’m stitching again 🙂

Edit: Of course as soon as I post this message Son calls me.

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Posted in Stitching, Training

Take that Nick Saban

Posted on November 3, 2007 | Comments Off

Geaux Tigers!

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Posted in LSU

Running, swimming, and having a Ball

Posted on November 2, 2007 | Comments Off

I’ve updated my October fitness accomplishments. I don’t know if I’m happy with them or not. I feel like I didn’t do as well and I could have, but I know that was because of my heel and the fires. On to November!

This month I have challenged myself to strength train a minimum of 5 times; run a minimum of 13 times; swim a minimum of 5 times; bike a minimum of 5 times; and lose 4 pounds.

I started swimming last night, so I’m off and running 😉 I was one tired puppy when I finished and felt like I could eat a horse. I had forgotten how great swimming feels and am kicking myself royally for not getting back into it sooner. Kahuna “coached” me last night but for the next 2 weeks I’ll have a coach from the Y helping me out. Kahuna is gone all next week and I knew I wouldn’t get to the training tank on my own, so I’m going to a coach at the Y for motivation. I really need a swift kick in the pants, so to speak, to get back into form.

I’ve been using my HRM everytime I go out to run and am starting to run more often than walk; however I’m still walking further than I’m running – if that makes sense. I’ve increased my minimum mileage for this month and am confident that I’ll be able to run/walk the 5K on the 22nd in under an hour. My heel is still giving me a bit of grief, but I’m beginning to figure out what bothers it the most. One thing, I am heel striking instead of staying on the balls of my feet, so I’m working on that. Another is that if I don’t ice it really quickly after I run, it bothers me the next day.

Tonight is Kahuna’s Marine Corps Ball. I decided to not attend for several reasons, so I’m on my own tonight and tomorrow morning, since they decided to have it in Nevada (not Vegas – which is one of the reasons I’m not attending).

Monday, Kahuna will be leaving again for HqMC for the week. It will be really quiet around the house with no one to talk to. I’m already looking forward to next Saturday.

This weekend is the LSU/Alabama football game. Geaux tigers!

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Oops, I've been neglecting my blog

Posted on October 29, 2007 | Comments Off

Let’s see. What’s happened since Oct 18?

I’m back to running a bit. My foot still hurts if I abuse it too much, but I’m just sucking it up, treating it after a run and ibuprfen is my breakfast, lunch and supper the day after a run. I’ll rethink what to do about it after Nov. 22.

I’ve been on the bike only the one time, but that’s changing tomorrow. New training schedule posted a bit further down.

This coming Thursday is when I start leaving work at 3:00 (can I get a Woohoo!) and I start swimming that afternoon. Husband is going to be my coach, since I cannot get anyone to take my money.

So, the new training plan looks something like this:

Mon: run
Tue: a.m. strength training; p.m. biking
Wed: run
Thur: a.m. strength training; p.m. swim
Fri: run
Sat: LSD run
Sun: off

After I’ve been doing this for a bit, I may change and add swim to Saturdays as well. Definately will be upping the tempo after the first of the year on the biking and swimming tho, since I’ve decided my first triathlon will be May 4.

I’m still looking for a couple more 5Ks between Nov 22 and Apr 4.

And of course we can’t forget the wonderful state of California being on fire. We never had to evacuate but it was rather hairy Wednesday morning. The dogs got up reeeeally early Wednesday morning and Kahuna came in saying he could see smoke blowing way down the street from us. I tried to go back to sleep after that, but ended up getting up at 2:30, getting dressed and snoozing on the futon in the man room with the TV on. Kahuna got up and dressed not too long after that. I finally felt safe enough to sleep around 12:30 that afternoon. There’s a map on CBS that shows the fire burning to the end of our street.

Other than that it’s been pretty mellow!

Oh wait, one more tidbit. Kahuna has received transfer orders effective January 4 to Miramar Air Base. He’s going to be a air winger again. I have no idea what this means as far as Iraq is concerned but I’m crossing my fingers that it doesn’t interfere with his Half Ironman coming up in March.

Speaking of Kahuna, I just remembered something else. He ended up getting inked two more places about a week after he had his ankle done. He’s now sporting a very fine looking elf script around same ankle that says something about the ride never ending…it’s a surfer thing. He also got barbed wire around his very buff bicep..opposite side, so he’s balanced.

Okay, that’s all. I think.

Nope, one more thang! Huge milestone met during WI at WW yesterday. Yay, me!

Okay, I’m out of here 😉

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Posted in Races, Training, Weight

When is it going to get better?

Posted on October 18, 2007 | Comments Off

I promised myself when I started this journey on August 12, that I would be completely honest with myself. It has absolutely nothing to do with the way I look. I’m aggravated in that I feel like I’m going backwards in my progress instead of forward.

I talked my boss into letting me cut my hours back by 2 so I could have the time to train. I fully expected to be truly running for my training instead of nursing an injury and walking. I also expected to be in the pool right now, but the Y doesn’t have anyone that will work with my schedule. My ortho doc doesn’t want to do surgery for my ulnar neuropathy, so I’m not sleeping well at night because of the braces I have to wear and I feel like no matter how much I sacrifice, I can’t get anywhere. I’m not paranoid or anything like that but I almost feel like everyone is out to go against what I want for myself right now.

Husband is nursing his own injury right now and he’s down because he’s not doing any sort of training and is missing his half mary next month, and since he’s my biggest cheerleader, and he’s not so cheerful right now, I found myself fighting tears this morning (and right now) that I am feeling so down.

I’m too tenacious to give up, but I just feel so, I don’t know, lost? hopeless? po’d (definately).

The teensy (and I mean teensy) bright spot, is that I finally got on the bike. For a whole 10 minutes.

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Here's to the week that won't end

Posted on October 12, 2007 | Comments Off

I’m ready for a weekend. A 2-day sort of do nothing weekend. Unfortunately that won’t be this weekend.

I feel like it’s been one thing after another since Monday and I’m tired. We were busy going places and doing things on all 3 days so that weekend went by fast.

Tuesday, Kahuna had his stitches removed and was told by his doctor to go forth and train. So he ran at lunch. Then later that afternoon he jumped in the pool and kicked off from the edge and immediately ripped his incision open. One guess as to where we spent Tuesday evening. If you need a hint there’s a huge and very popular tv series just starting it’s 14th season that revolves around this wonderful place to hang out on a Tuesday night.

Wednesday, I was dragging at work all day. I think it was because I just didn’t sleep well Tuesday night. Stress does that to me sometimes. I did manage to walk 1.5 miles in my new running shoes that evening. What a huge difference!!! My calves ached equally, instead of the right one give me major grief and Thursday morning when I woke up my heel was barely bothering me.

Thursday, was yesterday, and I don’t remember that much about it, other than I though Kahuna and I were going out to dinner and then tattoo “shopping” after I got home from my salon appointment. Turns out we only went out to dinner and I was a little miffed about that since if I had known we were only going out to eat I would have stayed home and cooked us dinner so I could strength train afterward. Oh, I was also bummed because I finally called the Y, since they hadn’t called me, and was informed that none of the coaches work after 5 and that’s what time it is that I get back into town. So here’s hoping I can hook up with someone on 1 November, when I’ll be back in town by 4. Of course, the weather will be much cooler by then, and it’s an outdoor pool. I did receive my swimsuit in the mail yesterday…so that’s one good thing, I guess.

Friday. Today. Payday. That’s about the only good thing I have to say about today. I walked my mile loop this morning and had no umpf. In fact, it took me 1.5 minutes longer than when I first started the new c25k program. Crap. I have the blahs, and don’t know why.

Saturday. Tomorrow. I’ll be gone almost all day. I’ll get up at 6 to do my 1.5 mile walk, then I have a mani/pedicure appt., and from there I’ll be driving up to Anaheim to go to a stitch-in with Melissa and Darla. I’m taking stitching with me and am hoping that this will help me get my mojo back. Of course, I’ve already emailed Melissa and joked with her about having to find my scissors. I am worried about the eating tomorrow too. Stitch-ins are such social eating events and I’m determined not to get caught up in whatever is there to eat. I’m also going to be on the road, so to speak, most of the day, and need to sit tonight and figure out my nutrition for tomorrow. I also wanted to watch Kona on the computer and will miss that, which is a bummer.
Sunday. Future. My house needs a major cleaning and there’s no way I want to spend all day Sunday doing that. I’ll have weigh in first thing, then the weekly trip to the grocery store. Laundry needs to be done…see! My week won’t end and I’m not going to get a weekend 🙁

And have you noticed I still haven’t mentioned how my cycling has gone? That’s because I haven’t even sat on it yet 🙁

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Puppies! (picture intensive)

Posted on October 8, 2007 | Comments Off

It sure doesn’t seem like we’ve had her very long, but my little Harley Quinn has gone from being a chubarita at 3 months old to a pretty little runway model at 1 year old.

She and Bandit are usually in the bed or on their perch. They’re always together and go from fighting to snuggling in 2 seconds flat. Since getting the two of them, we’ve given up on making up our bed all the way (and some days at all) or being able to sit by ourselves. But that’s okay, we got them to spoil. She is Kahuna’s Honey Bunny and he is my Sweetie Baby. They both bring much joy and laughter and sometimes a bit of aggravation, but they are completely worth it.