This is who I am

I want to be a SAHW*

Posted on November 27, 2007 by Terri | Comments Off

It was tough going back to work yesterday. Mostly all I have on my desk is some file management stuff and bills to pay. So I basically did a whole lot of nothing yesterday.

Immediately after work I went home and changed into my “gym” clothes and headed to the fitness center. I felt awkward going in since it’s been forever since I’ve been in a place like that. It was a good time though, since there were several empty treadmills and ellipticals. I got someone to explain to me how their ellipticals and treadmills worked, locked my swim stuff in a locker and went back out to the ellipticals where I lasted all of 3 minutes at a crawl. It picks your knees up higher than what I’m used to and it was very uncomfortable. I wanted to stay off my heel, but I want cardio, so I hit the treadmill until Kahuna got there. I kept my HR down below 75% max (what my tri-advisor ordered) and did a comfortable high speed walk for 20 minutes.

Once Kahuna got there I changed and met him at the pool where I did a 50m freestyle WU, 100m pull buoys, and 50m freestyle CD. I was pooped and hungry. Can’t wait to do it again tonight. I have a free fitness assessment to do when I get there tonight so depending on what the PT has me do, I may only get in a structured swim. We’ll see. I know I can’t do any hard core exercises since my ab is still hurting every now and again. D*mn adhesions!

Too tired to stitch last night. I did think about it several times, but never got the energy to get it out. I think if I didn’t have to put it away each night because of Harley (oh the joys of puppy mentality) I would have stitched some, but I mostly sat there icing my heel after supper (baked chicken and some left over dressing).

I want to be a *stay at home wife. I loved my long weekend. Was all domestic and all. When people ask what your dream job is, I always say SAHW. I know I have a practically brand new degree, but I’ve been working off and on (mostly on) for 25+ years and I’m ready to stop. I never used to enjoy housework, and I guess you can say I don’t “enjoy” it now, but I don’t mind it so much and I like puttering around the house. I also like the ability to go wherever I want, whenever I want. I wish I could do the grocery shopping during the week, early in the morning. I wish I could go to the fitness center early in the morning, and take some of the classes they’re offering. I wish I could sit and stitch during the day. I just wish my job didn’t get in the way of so many things. I always figured I get into the “career” mentality once I had my degree, but it just isn’t happening. Kahuna has told me I can “retire” when he does, but I worry about that, and trying to live here. I guess this is the downside of a 5-day weekend 😉

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Posted in Fitness, Stitching

What I did on my Thanksgiving vacation

Posted on November 26, 2007 by Terri | Comments Off

I heart 5-day weekends! I know I wrote in an earlier entry that 3-day weekends should be the norm, but man, 5-day weekends are the bomb!

Wednesday was spent doing ho-hum, but necessary, things like laundry, housework and depositing my paycheck in the bank. Kahuna and I headed downtown around 5 to pick up race packages and then we went to this mom and pop mexican food joint that I had been wanting to try. Good eats, followed up by great coffee next door at my fave coffee house. I swear I’ve just about given up on Starbucks after finding this place. Melissa came in later that evening.

Thursday morning the 3 of us headed back downtown after getting up around 5:30 for our pre-race breakfasts. Mine consisted of oatmeal and ibuprofen. I admit to being nervous about eating since I normally go out and do my morning runs on an empty stomach. We parked not too far away from the starting line and by the time we walked over Melissa and I decided to race the 1st race so we wouldn’t have to stand around in the chilly morning. I’m so glad we did, since I got to see Kahuna come in and finish his race (he ran the 2nd one) at a sub-21:00 pace.

The first mile was hard! I remember thinking at the mile-marker that there was no way I was going to be able to finish. It didn’t help much that people were calling out times that were far slower than what I was showing. Right after that was the turning point to head down to the PCH and I remember feeling really good as I ran around that corner. It may have been because I heard Kahuna’s voice and looked up to see him standing all alone cheering us on. That was such a nice feeling. Down, down, down we headed toward the beach. There were a ton of surfers bobbing around and the dolphins were out so it was a nice distraction. And there it was, the finish line! I thought I had finished at 55:20; however, the official times show me at 46:something. Rather proud of myself for finishing and not taking the photographer out who insisted on standing right in my path. Thank goodness he moved at the last minute and I only caught him in the elbow because I was going downhill, there was momentum and I was too pooped to stop! 🙂

After Kahuna finished we walked over to my fave coffee shop to grab some post-race refreshments and walked back to the car. We ended up going out to lunch at Denny’s (thanks again Melissa) because we were all a little pooped. The rest of the afternoon, before Melissa had to leave, was spent trying to nap. That evening Kahuna and I went out hunting for a frozen pizza, a piece of cheesecake and a bottle of wine. Nothing like romantic grocery store fare 🙂

Friday found the two of us deciding to stay put. There’s nothing in any store that I need bad enough to go out with crazy people – my personality doesn’t put up with pushing and shoving and I’d have probably hurt someone. I cooked our turkey breast, dressing, stuffing and deviled eggs that I was supposed to cook on Thanksgiving day and Kahuna tried to go out and do a LSD on the bike, but his legs were still trashed from the day before and I think he was back home in 15 minutes. I did a bit of laundry and organizing in my office and we enjoyed our turkey foods.

Saturday we headed out shopping and bought a new dining room suite and probably picked out new bedroom furniture. We’re probably going to put off buying that until we see what happens with Kahuna going to Iraq and us buying a house.

Sunday was more staying home except for a trip to the grocery store. I did a bit more laundry, bathed the puppies, and stitched for 2-3 hours on French Alphabet Sampler. I put the last photo up on my stitching page at the top. I cannot believe it’s been since February that I worked on it. I plan on continuing to stitch on it until this weekend, then will probably switch over to Justine.

Today it’s back to the grindstone, but I’ve already turned in my request for time off in December. Kahuna and I would like to go back to Disneyland the week of the 10th and I want the week off between Christmas and the 1st.

Tonight starts our working out at the fitness center. I’m planning on getting there before Kahuna and playing on the elliptical (my heel is shot!) and then we’re going to swim. We’re planning on doing this every night this week. Next Monday starts the training program for my first triathlon. I have a 5K scheduled for early February and am wondering if I can beat my 46:something time.

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Posted in Races, Stitching, Training

Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin…

Posted on November 16, 2007 by Terri | 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 by Terri | 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 by Terri | 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 by Terri | 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 by Terri | Comments Off

Geaux Tigers!

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Posted in LSU

Running, swimming, and having a Ball

Posted on November 2, 2007 by Terri | 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 by Terri | 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 by Terri | 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.