Ice Skating, Hike, and Surgery

We have had a few good weeks.  Took C to Lloyd to go ice skating for the first time.  He had so much fun and did so well, we will have to go again-he was like a natural on the ice!

So confident before hitting the ice.

My first time on skates in like 10 years!

He fell down some, but he did so good for a beginner.





Last week we went on the 4T hike from the zoo to council crest to the OHSU Sky tram (sky boat as C likes to call it).  The "T's" stand for Trail, tram, trolley, and train...  We take the train to the zoo then do the other parts from there.  It's about 4-4.5 miles depending on which way you take.

Banana slug!

This picture seems wonkey a bit but it's a good shot

We both love this bench

Picnic at Crown Point

The Phone tower we can see - the whole reason we went on the hike.

C loves going on hikes, the day was beautiful and the hike was great. 

Surgery yesterday went well, I'm in a lot of pain now but that was expected, the morpine is helping a bit but swallowing is still really difficult and painful.  I've heard tomorrow and the next day will be the worst because of the developing scabs.  I guess we will see how it goes as the week progresses.

the mess in my head

Went up to the Oregon zoo today.  Got to see the new Giraffe Riley, he's here from Utah for 2 years while they remodel his exhibit.  He has a heart shaped spot on his butt, it's awesome!

Riley is an amazing giraffe, Carter thought he was pretty cool, he came over to the tree near us to eat and in order to reach the ground where his food is, he had to do the splits kinda...  take a look how funny it looks.

We also got to see the hippos actually doing something!!  It was ball time and the hippos were totally into it, then they lumbered out of the water and went to lay down under their cave area, as if they had done their work and were exhausted LOL

As great as our trip to the zoo was today I am exhausted.  I haven't walked so much since I injured my ankle and since I have been having such good progress with wearing the boot I didn't think it would be too much but boy was I wrong!  I shouldn't complain though, I am going to start training as soon as I am healed (or as soon as I am out of the boot at least). 

I look forward to next week when I will start walking while carter is at school.  I need to figure out how to track distance.  I'm wondering about the Nike/ipod thing...  anyone know about how it works?  My  Ipod touch is out of action right now, so I'm not sure if that would work...  I've tried pedometers before but haven't had much luck with accurate readings.  Of course there is the whole 20 city blocks = a mile thing, but I don't want to think that hard while walking LOL.  SO, I am open to suggestions on a good/accurate way to track my distance.

Half Marathon....

So.  I have made some decisions about this half marathon I want to do.  First off, my training will have to be about reaching the goal of completing the half marathon, not about weight loss.

 I don't want to focus on weight loss because I dont want it to discourage me when I may or may not lose weight, or when I might hit a plateu. I want to be encouraged by how far I am able to walk, or how I don't have asthma issues as my training progresses, or whatever else might encourage me that isn't weight loss related. 

Now that I have decided not to make this goal about weight loss I am really excited about it.  My ankle sprain/pulled ligament is on it's way to being better, I will be out of the walking boot in a week, and I can start training.

 I have researched the Portland Rock & Roll 1/2 marathon website and the list of goodies and perks is super awesome.  I think this is the perfect choice for my first half marathon.

I hopefully will be starting a new job very soon and I will have to funds to cover the $80 entry fee (that is if I register before 12/31/12).

To train or not to train.......

My friend J walked the "Rock & Roll" Half marathon today here in Portland.  This was not her first, nor will it be her last.. OH I should mention.. this woman is OLD  LOL, But seriously, like in her 70's!!  Anyway, back to this marathon...  Today after it was all over she was telling me I should do it with her next year.  and honestly I'm considering it.  I've done a 5k walk before, nothing serious, but it was awesome...So, I looked up a training guide cuz I am seriously in need of training if I am going to try to do a half marathon.  Here's the guide I found for a 12 week training schedule, I think I would change it to a 12 month schedule since I have a year till the next "Rock and Roll" marathon.

Month	Sunday (Rest)	Monday (Easy)	Tuesday (Cross Train)	Wednesday (Easy)	Thursday (Cross Train)	Friday (Rest)	Saturday (Long)
1	Rest	30-36 Minutes (3 Miles)	30-40 Minutes	30-36 Minutes (3 Miles)	30-40 Minutes	Rest	4 Miles
2	Rest	30-36 Minutes (3 Miles)	30-40 Minutes	30-36 Minutes (3 Miles)	30-40 Minutes	Rest	5 Miles
3	Rest	35-42 Minutes (4 Miles)	30-40 Minutes	35-42 Minutes (4 Miles)	30-40 Minutes	Rest	6 Miles
4	Rest	35-42 Minutes (4 Miles)	30-40 Minutes	35-42 Minutes (4 Miles)	30-40 Minutes	Rest	7 Miles
5	Rest	35-42 Minutes (4 Miles)	30-40 Minutes	35-42 Minutes (4 Miles)	45-50 Minutes	Rest	4 Miles (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2
6	Rest	35-42 Minutes (4 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	30-40 Minutes	35-42 Minutes (4 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	45-50 Minutes	Rest	8 Miles (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2
7	Rest	45-50 Minutes (5 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	30-40 Minutes	45-50 Minutes (5 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	45-50 Minutes	Rest	9 Miles (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2
8	Rest	30-36 Minutes (3 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	35-45 Minutes	45-50 Minutes (5 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	45-50 Minutes	Rest	6 Miles (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2
9	Rest	45-50 Minutes (5 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	35-45 Minutes	45-50 Minutes (5 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	45-50 Minutes	Rest	10 Miles (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2
10	Rest	30-36 Minutes (3 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	35-45 Minutes	45-50 Minutes (5 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	45-50 Minutes	Rest	7 Miles (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2
11	Rest	30-36 Minutes (3 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	35-45 Minutes	30-36 Minutes (3 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	45-50 Minutes	Rest	6 Miles (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2
12	Rest	30-36 Minutes (3 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	30 Minutes	30-36 Minutes (3 Miles) (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2	Rest	Rest	13.1 Miles Race day! Run/Walk (A) 3/2 (B) 4/2

SEASIDE!!!

We are spending some time at the coast this week for a OHSA conference.  Some time for meetings, some time for fun.  Today at lunch C and I spent  time at the Seaside Aquarium feeding the seals and exploring the exhibits.



Feeding the Seals at the Aquarium





Look at the crabs, they are moving



C really liked the Octupus

After the aquaruim we headed to the beach. Let me set the scene...rain, wind, wet, cold, amazing! We got soaked but to see the joy in C's face walking in the sand and playing in the water... it was so great.

Running to the water, shoes in hand

We might be soaked, but we are still smiling!



Later, after another session of meetings for me, we went back to the beach on the hunt for fun stuff...  No luck on the hunt, well no luck at all as far as that goes, it was still windy, still rainy, still cold...  but the opportunity to take more beach pictures was not missed.

Hopefully will get some time tomorrow before we leave, ad some better weather, to hit the beach for some goodies...  one shell just won't cut it!

In such a good mood!

I have been having some really good days lately.  Yesterday for example.  Got to spend time with B at the park with the kids.  (his gf's son and C)  C got a soccer ball from the Easter bunny so I took him to Creston park Sunday to play - he kicked my butt - and then yesterday I invited B to come play with us. 

The kids had fun kinda, B seems concerned C doesn't have any consistant male role models so he has been trying to be around more now that he can be (since he came back from Iraq)

Today I have 2 meetings for Head Start.  One is the federal review and the other is the regular policy council meeting.  I am excited for the meetings - is that weird?  I really enjoy the work I am doing for C's school.  The volunteering, the Policy Council stuff, the trip to Nashville (I leave Saturday night!!!!!)

OH Saturday is Packy's birthday party at the Oregon Zoo, we are so going to be there, I am really excited to be spending the Day I leave with Carter in such a fun way.  Packy is gonig to be 50!! (Survival analysis estimates of average life expectancy for Asian elephants are 47.6 years in Europe and 44.8 years in North America)

 Easter was good.  C put on his tux and looked fabulous like always.  I asked him if he wanted to take off his jacket so we could go shopping after seeing the Easter Bunny and he was all like NOOOOO  -  My mom said "it's like his Cinderella dress - but for a boy - just let him be Cinderella!"   OMG so funny.  He was walking around Fred Meyer's strutting.  God he is awesome!

V-Day

I have ever been a fan of valentines day. Not as a single girl nor as a girl in a relationship. I didn't like it when I was in school or when I wasn't in school.

I find the notion of candy and flowers to be silly. All the hype put into v-day takes away from the joy of being in love, romance, and secret admirers for me. I would rather a glass of wine and someone giving me flowers any other day of the year. I am honestly one of those "don't get me anything for valentines day" kinda women.

Don't give me chocolate, or flowers , or a night out just because of a holiday, give me those things because you love me and want me to know it.

Oh and if you ever think about proposing to me on valentines day I will say no! I'm sorry but seriously unoriginal and cliché. I am not too difficult but I expect you to think about me when you plan on proposing. Think about my personality, my likes, my dislikes. Be original. Make it mean something to us. Use your heart.

The picture is of my Granny and Grandpa at their wedding.

My crazy life

Life has been good. Here are some pictures to prove it.

Winter

We went to zoo lights again, this time I was armed with my camera that mom got me for Christmas. We stopped at pioneer square on the way so I could get a picture of C with the tree.

Zoo lights the second time was interesting. It was dumping rain like literally lol and we ran into M. M and I aren't talking very much right now and I have pretty much moved on. He hurt me by his absent behavior and not letting me know what was up. Turns out he decided he would stop seeing me to help make things with Mom and I better. That's nice of him except for the fact he decided this then forgot to mention it to me so here I am wondering why the man I loved never messages me, or never answers when I call. Never tries to see me anymore. Yep. It was great. He hurt me and I may forgive but I don't forget. He will always be the one who hurt me for no reason and I can't trust him now. He might do it again? OH and the best part.... When we saw him at zoo lights, he was wearing his effing wedding ring again. Um dude you aren't married anymore. Get over it!

So I am on the other side of the hurt and the anger and I am moving on without M. We may still be friends but I will never love him again like I loved him before.

Post Christmas woohoo

My mom got me a new digital camera for Christmas! And R got me an I-tunes gift card so with it I bought the movie friends with benefits and a couple songs. Mom got herself an iPad which is cool. She bought a tracing app and with it I made this awesome picture of my favorite TOS Star Trek characters.....