End o’ the Year

I feel like I should be doing an end of year summing up and new goals post type thing but frankly it’s too hot and I can’t be arsed thinking.  I’ll do something one day soonish.

Meanwhile I’ve got a question: at the end of the week we’re going down to Lorne for the Mountain to Surf run and will be camping for 2 days.  If got to take something to have for brekkie for 2 days.  Since it’s going to be hot and we only have a esky plus don’t have a cooker, I need some ideas.

Sometimes I have the Carman breakfast bars which are yummy but think I’ll want something more substantial.

I think I’ve narrowed the bed choice down to three.  Did you know that you can beds with tvs in them?  TVs that slide into the bed base at the touch of a button!  And beds with ipod docks.  What a world we live in.

Legs of Lead

I met up with Kathy for a run again this morning.  Simon was meant to come along too but he’s totally slack and I rang and told him so.  We did 8 kms around the Tan then along the Yarra.  I thought we’d only done 6 kms.  It rocks when you run further than you thought.

So I got home and stupidly decided to walk into town.  Even stupider, I decided to wear my Dunlop Volleys based on the fact that I could wear them with a denim skirt but if I wore actual, proper runners I’d need to take a change of shoes with me.  Yeah, try to make sense of that.  I have very sore legs now.  I had planned to go to the gym later today for some weight training and yoga but now I’m thinking I’ll skip the leg part of the weights and just do upper body.

I dunno if I’ve mentioned this before but I’m looking for a new bed.  I went into the city to check out Freedom – they had one in the style I want but it’s not the right colour.  I’m thinking white wrought iron.  You’d think that wouldn’t be too hard to find but apparently it is.

There’s one in a dark colour on the Forty Winks web site — I didn’t want dark but it’s a really nice style.  Anyways, if anyone reads this and is out shopping and sees something appropriate, drop me a note.

The stupid thing is, I have the exact bed I want in my storage space (it’s a real antique too not just a faux) but it’s only a single!  I’d totally embrace my old-maidhood and free up the floor space for more exercising room except it’s uncomfortable as hell.  Oh yeah and I’ve spent a fortune on queen sized bed linen.  I have to take Andy bed shopping next weekend so hopefully I’ll find something for myself as well.

Quickie

To state the totally obvious, it’s hot.  My bloody house gets so hot at night that even if it’s cooled down outside, it’s still stinking inside and I’m not even going to think about sleeping with the windows or doors open cos that’d freak me right out.

To answer the question, I got home last night by cab of course   I did forget to mention the funniest thing about the trip to the movies last night.  When I go to the cinema, I have the very charming and sophisticated habit of taking my bra off to get comfy.  Yeah, I’m all class.  Normally I wait until after the lights have gone off but, for some stupid reason, decided to whip it off when we first got into the cinema.  That would have been fine – I unhooked the back and slipped the straps off my arms like a pro – but when I went to pull it out the neck of my dress, it’d gotten caught.  I tugged on it but realised I’d end up ripping my dress then tried to explain to my sister while hunching over so no one around me could see the bra half spilling out of my dress.  She tried to unhook it without success then I tried.  Eventually, with some tricky manoeuvring, I got it off.  I looked around, thinking I’d managed to not draw attention to myself but Anita said that I’d been giggling so much that half the cinema had seen me.  Oops.

Tonight we went to the nicely air conditioned movies again and this time I left my bra on!  We saw The Darjeeling Limited – great film.  If this heat keeps up, I’ll end up seeing every film realised this summer even that annoying looking Bee Movie (I hate Jerry Seinfeld).

Now I should go to bed because I have to do some running before the heat gets insane tomorrow.

Happy Hour at the Sushi Train

Last night I went into the city because I wanted to find somewhere air conditioned. We’d planned to go to a 8.20 session at the movies but, because of late trains and other faffing about problems, decided on the 11.30 session instead.  Only after we bought the ticket did we realise the movie finished after last tram home.  Public transport sucks – I remember a while back there was a big “go us” from them because they were putting on later trams but they still only run until about 1.00 am or some such shite.  Why can’t we have all night public transport?  The people need to get home.
Anyway we went to a sushi train because food always tastes better if it comes on a train.  It was pretty awesome sushi.  We even had crab balls which were very tasty even though I rarely eat seafood, and I tried squid.  So 800 plates of sushi later, we finally left. But it’s sushi so that’s okay, right?  Even if the crab balls were deep fried.  I mean it comes in such tiny portions.

We still had over an hour to kill before the movie and everything in the city was closed except for bars, so we lolled around on the grass outside the big library watching (and quietly mocking) people.  That was really nice.  I rarely spend time in the city and, when I do, it’s running around shopping and getting stuff done, never just lolling on the grass.

We saw The Golden Compass.  My sister’s choice not mine because I don’t love fantasies but I did love the bears.

#

I walked up to the gym yesterday arvo.  The little gym near me is only $4 for a casual visit but I’m a bit slack about going.  I always feel like I should go do weights and yoga and pilates and all that kind of stuff.  So I decided to buy a monthly pass to push myself into going more often.

When I do weights, I always struggle with lat pulldowns.  No matter what I did, I never got any better at them.  Usually when I’m doing weights, I notice the results pretty quickly but after years of doing lat pulldowns (intermittently of course), I’ve never been able to increase the weight or seen any change at all.

Yesterday I finally worked out how to engage my lats when I’m doing them.  I’m excited about that beyond what is normal (and of course no one I know cares).  It’s so easy once you work it out.  This is just like a few years ago when I worked out how to use my abs for doing crunches.  It’s not one of those big, quantifiable changes but it’s definitely a moment.

Stuff I Did Today

• Met up with Simon for a run.  We ran (well walked actually) to Arden St oval then did laps.. 1 fast, 1 slow x 5.  It ended up being quite a workout but bloody hot by the end of it and not a tap in sight.  I’d worn tights under my shorts and was going to duck behind a building and take them off then I realised I’d not put knickers on underneath *blush*.  Yeah, no way was I changing if there was any chance I’d flash my bare butt!
• Went to Target to look for new bed linen and discovered there is NO way on earth you can get the thread count + the colour + the size you want.  I compromised on colour, getting white (the other choices were all variations on beige – ick) but it’s got a stripe, dull white and shiny white stripes.
• I also got a singlet top with a built in bra.  Not one of those useless shelf bras that do nothing but a proper bra.  It also smooths and flattens a little.  It’s pretty awesome and, since I got a $10 voucher for spending over $100, I think I’ll buy another colour too.
• Eating was better today but still not good.
• Oh yeah and I changed my blog layout.  Not sure yet if I like it.

Boxing Day!

I’m celebrating Boxing Day by wearing my Rocky boxer shorts.. ha ha! Oh yeah, I got the Rocky box set of DVDs with Rocky robe and boxers from Andy yesterday. Woohoo! He said he wouldn’t get it for me cos I have all the Rocky movies but I really wanted that robe. It was a huge surprise yesterday. My mum and sister got me a massage chair pad that also has speakers for your mp3 player and a heated seat. More woohoos!

I went for my run yesterday morning – well kinda. About half way around I needed the toilet so went to the public toilet I normally use and it’d been vandalised and all the toilet paper strewn everywhere so I went looking for the other toilet and the same thing had happened. Bastards. By the time I got home, I was filled with the spirit of Xmas… well the spirit of Mr Hankie anyways.

After showering etc and getting dressed in my purty Chrissie dress, we went to get coffees and pick up Andy. His friend was going to have lunch with us but decided to spend it with his family instead so we yelled at him…lolz. We got lunch ready — turkey plus so many vegies we had to use two trays. Because we were at T&S’s housesitting, I got to raid their garden for lots of fresh herbs to go on the vegies – yum, sage and rosemary etc.

Then we did the pressie thing. It took forever for the vegies to cook so it was nearly 4.00 when we had lunch. Eat far too much… then ate some more… then more. When we got home, we were talking to our housemate who spends Xmas day driving a bus to take old people to and from the local church for lunch. He’d been given a huge box of chocolates as a thank you and gave us some. I think it’s the last thing I need atm.

 

This is Anita and Andy (wearing the cool shirt I bought him)

 

My first pav I ever made.  I forgot to take a pic after I decorated it though.

 

Merry Christmas

Hope everyone’s having a great day.

I’m about to go for a run then shower and put on a pretty dress.  I have to pick up Andy and his mate for lunch and drop them home later so not too much drinking on the cards for me today but some yum food.  I made my pav last night – not bad for a first effort but will have to see how it tastes.

Last night we went to Ivanhoe to look at the houses all lit up for Christmas.  Apparently this is Melbourne institution but I never knew about it until this year.  OMG half of Melbs were there.  It’s so weird, just hundreds of people driving or walking along the street looking at these houses lit up like… well like Christmas trees.

Resting, kinda.

I’ve had a quietish weekend.  The pressie shopping is all done and I went to the green grocers today.  Everything else we need for Xmas lunch can be bought at the little supermarket down the street so no annoying trips to Coles.  That makes me very happy.

I met up with Kathy for a run this morning.   We hadn’t met each other before although had run near each other at a fun run a few months ago.  She’s much better as a running partner than Simon because I felt like I couldn’t slack off or she’d write that I was a big slacker on her blog   Also we got to chat about girlie stuff.    We did a couple of laps of the Tan which means I’ve run up Anderson St hill SIX times this week.   It was great to meet her in person and have a good running session together.

On Friday night, Simon and I were talking about going to Tassie then we decided to see if there were any fun runs on we could do while we were there.  This one  is in King Island and is 32 kms so not likely for next year but maybe the year after?  The best part is that instead of a finisher’s medal, you get a cheese hamper.  Oh yeah, that’s a helluva motivator!

I’m off to work tomorrow for a couple of hours.  Actually they only have a quick job for me to do and thought I could do it from home but I figure if I do less than an hour at home they’d expect me not to charge them and that’s just not happening so instead I’ll go in (they said they had a few thing other things I could do if I went in there).  Hopefully I’ll finish about 12 or 1 cos I’m housesitting for Tim and Simon (well cat feeding) and I’m going to make a pav in their own.  Maybe.   Argghh, I went over to feed the cats today and got almost home – was going into Baker’s Delight to buy some mince pies – and realised I’d left my wallet behind.  I had to drive all the way back but the good bit is I ended up not pigging out on mince pies, did steal some of their pistaccio nuts though

Running Stuff

On Sunday I ran to Princes Park to meet Simon for a run, did a lap and came home.  We’d planned 2 laps but my sciatic area felt sore so I cut it short.  When I got home, I iced it straight away and it’s been fine since.  I had to use a bag of frozen vegies for the icing though and didn’t want to waste them so made up a dish that I call Kathryn’s Arse Icin’ Chilli.  It pretty much rocked.

Tonight I walked up to Fed Square from work, got changed then went over to the Tan to meet Simon (=2km).  We did a warm up around the Yarra – half walking, half running (=2km).  Simon said that the reason we walk so much when we run together is because I’m all slackness.  I said I’m only slack when I’m with him so he’s the one letting the team down.

Anyway I showed him.  I made us do hill running up Anderson Street.   Ha!  We ran up and down Anderson St 3 times (3 km) then up Anderson St and around the Tan (4 km).  After running up Anderson St for the final time, I didn’t think I could ever run again… then realised if I stopped, I’d never start again so ended up running most of the lap of the Tan.  Lordy, it’s so worth going to the Tan after work on a Wednesday.  The eyes got as much of a workout as the legs!

All up, 11 kms with much hills and lots of heat – I showed Simon.  But I think he got the last laugh.  He dropped me off at North Richmond station to get the train home.  I looked at that ramp leading up to the platform and nearly cried.

Stop me NOW

Okay, you might remember a few posts or so ago I said I’m not shopping any more until after Christmas — seems I’m out of control.  Do they pump something into the air at this time of year to make you go consumerism mad or something?  Not only am I shopping like crazy but it’s like I buy one present for other people then 18 for me.

Today I went to Route 66 to get a bowling shirt for Andrew on account of I’m sick of him looking like a slob.  I actually wanted to get him a checked cowboy style shirt but he refuses to wear one even though they make guys like 50% hotter (maybe something your mum thinks it hot is enough to put him off but really he should listen to me).

We went a bit crazy but had a fun time – trying on everything that took our fancy regardless of any preconceived thoughts of what suited us.  That’s a good thing to do sometimes cos you never know.  I ended up with this dress that looked far better on me than I thought it would and this shirt plus a tee shirt and some seamed stockings (now I just need a suspender belt).

I loved the dress so much that I haven’t taken it off yet, which might not have been the most stylish option considering I was wearing my Dunlop Volleys!  Maybe I should have bought some cowboy boots as well!

Okay, seriously now… no more shopping.