I love this song...the whole album is funky funky stuff...makes you want to shake your groove thing. It's in one of my workout mixes on the old iPod.
I'm in a great mood. After the furnace adventure things have gone rather well. I am officially a graduate student. My Mum is home from the hospital (and she loved the big poinsetta I sent her) and last night at bellydance class we did lots of zills and hip drills and I got to balance my very own sword on my head for a while :) Yippedee!
I got up this morning, after a snooze button or two and did my ball DVD and had a good breakfast. The cool thing about it was as I was drying my hair after a shower I noticed something - you know the top front part of your shoulders? Yeah, I have *muscles* there. Noticable pronounced muscles. When did that happen! I haven't had muscles there in a while...me hee. I literally stopped and stared and started moving my arms around a bit and flexing my arms. It's so cool! I haven't had muscles there in a long time. It was all I could do to not go and wake J up to make hom look at my shoulders...but I figured that'd be mean :)
So yeah. It's a good day really. I am quite happy. My parents are going to come visit next week for a few days. Mum still ahs lots of doctor's appointments over the next few weeks, so Dad is going to come up in January and do the renos then. No biggie. It'll be nice to have a visit with them.
I'm looking forward to a weekend of sewing and relaxing...yeah yeah. Have a great weekend!
Day 13: Nitty Gritty
It's the boodiggity
I am officially a graduate student!
They can't get rid of me now...(just take all my $$ and time!)
My first committee meeting is next week. I start my research in January.
YAY!
As my J would say - "it's the boodiggity!" :)
Day 13: Today's workout is cancelled due to weather
I can honestly claim my indoor workouts were cancelled due to temperature!
I got home last night around 10 after a LONG day to a freezing cold house. It was about 12 degrees...turns out the squeaky noise the furnace was making was rather important. The motor had gone on our furnace. Thankfully where J works there are a lot of space heaters we could borrow so we kept the house from freezing up overnight and arranged for someone to come in first thing 7AM to fix our furnace. Saved ourselves about $200...
I heartily recommend and thank the guy we hired - Integrity Plumbing and Heating in Saskatoon. An independent contractor who's a journeyman for plumbing and heating. He was really nice (no bullshit to me as a girl - that's *huge* in my books), and did everything he could to save us what he could and his labour was reasonable. It wasn't too expensive in the end and we now have heat again...
But needless to say, I didn't get my workout in this morning. Ah well. I have bellydance class tonight, so it's not a total loss. And I had breakfast...
I am exhausted though. After class I'll be glad to come home to a toasty house and go to bed very early.
Moral of the story? Change your furnace filters so you don't wear out your motor....And if your furnace starts making odd squeaky noises don't go "huh, that's odd"...have it looked at! Where I live a broken furnace is critical. -35C is not kind to you. I'm quite relieved to have it all fixed and glad we have a rainy day fund for stuff like this now...makes it a bit less freaky.
And now I must play catch up on my day...later taters...
I got home last night around 10 after a LONG day to a freezing cold house. It was about 12 degrees...turns out the squeaky noise the furnace was making was rather important. The motor had gone on our furnace. Thankfully where J works there are a lot of space heaters we could borrow so we kept the house from freezing up overnight and arranged for someone to come in first thing 7AM to fix our furnace. Saved ourselves about $200...
I heartily recommend and thank the guy we hired - Integrity Plumbing and Heating in Saskatoon. An independent contractor who's a journeyman for plumbing and heating. He was really nice (no bullshit to me as a girl - that's *huge* in my books), and did everything he could to save us what he could and his labour was reasonable. It wasn't too expensive in the end and we now have heat again...
But needless to say, I didn't get my workout in this morning. Ah well. I have bellydance class tonight, so it's not a total loss. And I had breakfast...
I am exhausted though. After class I'll be glad to come home to a toasty house and go to bed very early.
Moral of the story? Change your furnace filters so you don't wear out your motor....And if your furnace starts making odd squeaky noises don't go "huh, that's odd"...have it looked at! Where I live a broken furnace is critical. -35C is not kind to you. I'm quite relieved to have it all fixed and glad we have a rainy day fund for stuff like this now...makes it a bit less freaky.
And now I must play catch up on my day...later taters...
Day 12: creaky me
Last night I spent the evening on the living room floor cutting out fabric for 3 bunny hug patterns that I'm sewing as gifts for my 3 nieces this Christmas. They're pretty simple, so they won't take too long to sew, and once I got into a groove, I figured I'd cut everything out so that I would be able to sew at them whenever I had time. I have 1 a week to do until Christmas. Hopefully they'll be done with time to spare and it won't be a late night Christmas eve sewing fest (like last year...*cough*). We're doing Christmas on a low scale this year, so homemade things for the girls suits the time. I like it better too...more thought and heart.
When you spend 4 hours bent over on your knees your back gets sore. Go figure! At the end I just laid down on the floor for a bit to let my back relax. I'm fine this morning, so no harm done, but I was so intent on what I was doing I didn't think about getting stiff. I'll have to set a timer for breaks next time I do that sort of thing...I felt very old for a while.
I got up this morning to work out but I was tired. I did it though, I'm proud of that. I did 40 minutes on the elliptical at 15% incline and went back and forth from resistance 1 to 2 until I sort of hit a groove at the the last ten minutes and finished off at 2. Then I did 4 minutes of cool down. My mind kept wandering so the extra resistance helped me focus.
My Mum is still in the hospital after a week in for diagnosis and tests and they're still trying to find a medication to help her weak old heart out a bit, so I admit I'm a little preoccupied. I finally have a phone number for her so I can call her today. Dad says she's bored, as she was hoping to be out on monday...she has a great doctor who doesn't want to let her go until they've tried all they can. I just hope they can find something to help her, otherwise she'll be a much much slow er lady than before, and she's already slowed down a lot. She's done addressing all her Christmas letters and is now looking for something to do to keep alert. I bet she's crocheting up a storm as we speak.
It's a catch 22 really - you have a defective heart valve and a flutter so you take medication to strengthen your heart and thin your blood to help your heart beat stronger and faster to compensate...and then your heart gets tired from all that extra work after years and years. A few years ago Mum's heart started to tire out from all the extra work and those meds didn't work very well anymore. I just don't want to think about the fact that perhaps her heart has just gotten tired and from all those years of extra work, so it just can't beat like it used to anymore. This may be "her" now from now on. Doctor's aren't magicians. My Grandma had the same problems when she got old...I guess we'll see. She's still in good spirits, altho frustrated and getting bored. I'm sending her happy thoughts. Dad is keeping himself well and he is concerned, but there's nothing either of us can do really. If I was closer I'd visit, but they're too far away. They won't be coming up tomorrow as planned, which is too bad. I'm still hoping they'll be up for Christmas...Dad keeps apologizing about the renos being delayed. Phah. The renos can wait...
I do think I will send her flowers today though. She'll like that...
When you spend 4 hours bent over on your knees your back gets sore. Go figure! At the end I just laid down on the floor for a bit to let my back relax. I'm fine this morning, so no harm done, but I was so intent on what I was doing I didn't think about getting stiff. I'll have to set a timer for breaks next time I do that sort of thing...I felt very old for a while.
I got up this morning to work out but I was tired. I did it though, I'm proud of that. I did 40 minutes on the elliptical at 15% incline and went back and forth from resistance 1 to 2 until I sort of hit a groove at the the last ten minutes and finished off at 2. Then I did 4 minutes of cool down. My mind kept wandering so the extra resistance helped me focus.
My Mum is still in the hospital after a week in for diagnosis and tests and they're still trying to find a medication to help her weak old heart out a bit, so I admit I'm a little preoccupied. I finally have a phone number for her so I can call her today. Dad says she's bored, as she was hoping to be out on monday...she has a great doctor who doesn't want to let her go until they've tried all they can. I just hope they can find something to help her, otherwise she'll be a much much slow er lady than before, and she's already slowed down a lot. She's done addressing all her Christmas letters and is now looking for something to do to keep alert. I bet she's crocheting up a storm as we speak.
It's a catch 22 really - you have a defective heart valve and a flutter so you take medication to strengthen your heart and thin your blood to help your heart beat stronger and faster to compensate...and then your heart gets tired from all that extra work after years and years. A few years ago Mum's heart started to tire out from all the extra work and those meds didn't work very well anymore. I just don't want to think about the fact that perhaps her heart has just gotten tired and from all those years of extra work, so it just can't beat like it used to anymore. This may be "her" now from now on. Doctor's aren't magicians. My Grandma had the same problems when she got old...I guess we'll see. She's still in good spirits, altho frustrated and getting bored. I'm sending her happy thoughts. Dad is keeping himself well and he is concerned, but there's nothing either of us can do really. If I was closer I'd visit, but they're too far away. They won't be coming up tomorrow as planned, which is too bad. I'm still hoping they'll be up for Christmas...Dad keeps apologizing about the renos being delayed. Phah. The renos can wait...
I do think I will send her flowers today though. She'll like that...
Day 11: frosty day
It's another cold day today - what a change from last week! -34. Brrrr.
I got up to a chilly house today to do my exercise ball DVD workout. I actually counted the "on-the-ball" push ups I did in the workout: 38! Split up into two 1 minute intervals, and with my body up on the exercise ball, with the ball at about mid thigh, but still! Woot!
I had a happy weigh in this AM. I stepped on the scale (once before and once after the workout just to make sure it was real) and the bouncy needle is now between 122 and 123! Me hee! Slowly but surely. I'm particularly pleased, as even though I've been good with workouts and generally eating well this week I have had some munchables, and a night out. Plus it's PMS time...I was sure I'd be holding some water in me too...not too shabby. There has been a beer here and there and little extras like a warm glass of hot chocolate last night before bed. And still it goes down! Mee hee. Made me smile...it's good to see the diligence counting for something.
I'm inspired to keep at it. It'll be hard as this week is "all my bosses take me out for nice lunches week". As a bonus, I haven't had my expected monthly PMS attack of the munchies yet. Perhaps this will be one of the good months where I don't want to eat everything I see for a few days. Especially around all the buffet tables :) Here's hoping...
Gotta keep at it. I have 2 and a half weeks to lose 2 and a half pounds...I'm curious to see if I can do it, especially around holiday time.
We shall see my little pretties. We shall see...
I got up to a chilly house today to do my exercise ball DVD workout. I actually counted the "on-the-ball" push ups I did in the workout: 38! Split up into two 1 minute intervals, and with my body up on the exercise ball, with the ball at about mid thigh, but still! Woot!
I had a happy weigh in this AM. I stepped on the scale (once before and once after the workout just to make sure it was real) and the bouncy needle is now between 122 and 123! Me hee! Slowly but surely. I'm particularly pleased, as even though I've been good with workouts and generally eating well this week I have had some munchables, and a night out. Plus it's PMS time...I was sure I'd be holding some water in me too...not too shabby. There has been a beer here and there and little extras like a warm glass of hot chocolate last night before bed. And still it goes down! Mee hee. Made me smile...it's good to see the diligence counting for something.
I'm inspired to keep at it. It'll be hard as this week is "all my bosses take me out for nice lunches week". As a bonus, I haven't had my expected monthly PMS attack of the munchies yet. Perhaps this will be one of the good months where I don't want to eat everything I see for a few days. Especially around all the buffet tables :) Here's hoping...
Gotta keep at it. I have 2 and a half weeks to lose 2 and a half pounds...I'm curious to see if I can do it, especially around holiday time.
We shall see my little pretties. We shall see...
Day 10: Well, it's officially winter
I'm certainly glad we put the snow tires on and I got a new winter coat (with a hood!!!) on the weekend while it was still mild. Today I woke up to a balmy -30 degrees C. Chilly walk to the bus that's for sure. Usually it's that cold around here in winter...it's just been unseasonably warm until now, that it's a bit of a shock. It was nice to be all toasty warm in my new coat though...the zipper on my old old coat finally died so I found a new one on the weekend. It's WAY cooler than my old "responsibly warm, yet horribly boring" coat AND it has a hood. It's a nice metallic silver colour and has lots of pockets and handy little places to put my iPod and bus pass and such. I like. I don't know what I was thinking before withnot having a hood...it's nice to be all bundled up in weather like this and not totally wreck your hair with a toque.
This morning I got up and did 40 minutes on the elliptical at 15% incline and resistance 1 and 2 (rotated back and forth 10 min of each), with 4 minutes cooldown after. 495 calories according to the robot. It felt nice to workout, but the house was quite chilly indeed...makes you want to work out harder just to warm up!
Then I had a nice relaxing breakfast with the cats looking at the christmas decorations and psyching myself up for another week. I'm training a student in something today so I'm putting on my rediculously patient hat and getting ready for the day.
Hope you are all having a great (and much warmer than mine) day!
This morning I got up and did 40 minutes on the elliptical at 15% incline and resistance 1 and 2 (rotated back and forth 10 min of each), with 4 minutes cooldown after. 495 calories according to the robot. It felt nice to workout, but the house was quite chilly indeed...makes you want to work out harder just to warm up!
Then I had a nice relaxing breakfast with the cats looking at the christmas decorations and psyching myself up for another week. I'm training a student in something today so I'm putting on my rediculously patient hat and getting ready for the day.
Hope you are all having a great (and much warmer than mine) day!
Day 9: resistance is futile
Ah...it's friday. I'm so glad. It's been a productive week, but I could use a few days away from work...
I've noticed a somewhat annoying side effect of getting up so early to work out...I find myself falling asleep during TV or movies at about 9 ish. It used to not really matter, as my husband got up a full hour before me even so he'd be jsut as tired, but now he sleeps in 2 hours past me (lucky lucky) so I feel like a party pooper nodding off all the time. I know it didn't bother me when he got tired, it jsut was what it was. Last night we sat down to just sit and relax and listen to a few new CDs and I only heard half of them, as we sat sprawled on the couch all snuggled up. He said it was terribly cute and he doesn't mind at all, so hopefully he won't as this goes on. I'm one of those people that when I'm tired I sleep wherever I am and there's nothing for it if I'm not actively doing something...it does get annoying to miss the end of movies (prime example: After 5 attempted viewings I still have not seen all of Beowolf!) Suppose we'll have to learn and start films earlier if I want to see the whole thing! I'm such a night owl that it's odd to be so tired so early. Makes sense tho - I mean I should really be in bed by 10 if I'm going to get up around 5...7 hours sleep is a minimum really.
This AM I got up (almost hit snooze) and did cardio on the elliptical. It went well. I thought I'd try something new and I varied the resistance. I started off at 15% incline at resistance 2 for 6 minutes and then dropped to resistance 1 for 4 minutes...and did that 4 times. The cool thing is I did do 40 minutes in total (plus 4 minutes slow cool down after), which is longer than before. I burned a few less calories this way (~490) but I think this might be how to increase my time. I want to do a minimum of 40 minutes and I know in building up running time you run a few minutes and walk a few minutes... so I'm going to try and transfer that over to the elliptical and see what I can come up with by varying resistance and incline as I go forward to increase my workout over the same period of time. After a yummy breakfast and a cat snuggle I am good to go for today.
I'm looking forward to sleeping in and then tackling a list of stuff for the weekend and lots of relaxing too. I plan on putting up some christmas lights this weekend. I can't wait!
Have a great weekend!
I've noticed a somewhat annoying side effect of getting up so early to work out...I find myself falling asleep during TV or movies at about 9 ish. It used to not really matter, as my husband got up a full hour before me even so he'd be jsut as tired, but now he sleeps in 2 hours past me (lucky lucky) so I feel like a party pooper nodding off all the time. I know it didn't bother me when he got tired, it jsut was what it was. Last night we sat down to just sit and relax and listen to a few new CDs and I only heard half of them, as we sat sprawled on the couch all snuggled up. He said it was terribly cute and he doesn't mind at all, so hopefully he won't as this goes on. I'm one of those people that when I'm tired I sleep wherever I am and there's nothing for it if I'm not actively doing something...it does get annoying to miss the end of movies (prime example: After 5 attempted viewings I still have not seen all of Beowolf!) Suppose we'll have to learn and start films earlier if I want to see the whole thing! I'm such a night owl that it's odd to be so tired so early. Makes sense tho - I mean I should really be in bed by 10 if I'm going to get up around 5...7 hours sleep is a minimum really.
This AM I got up (almost hit snooze) and did cardio on the elliptical. It went well. I thought I'd try something new and I varied the resistance. I started off at 15% incline at resistance 2 for 6 minutes and then dropped to resistance 1 for 4 minutes...and did that 4 times. The cool thing is I did do 40 minutes in total (plus 4 minutes slow cool down after), which is longer than before. I burned a few less calories this way (~490) but I think this might be how to increase my time. I want to do a minimum of 40 minutes and I know in building up running time you run a few minutes and walk a few minutes... so I'm going to try and transfer that over to the elliptical and see what I can come up with by varying resistance and incline as I go forward to increase my workout over the same period of time. After a yummy breakfast and a cat snuggle I am good to go for today.
I'm looking forward to sleeping in and then tackling a list of stuff for the weekend and lots of relaxing too. I plan on putting up some christmas lights this weekend. I can't wait!
Have a great weekend!
Snowy morning
This morning I got up and did my exercise ball DVD and had breakfast. It felt very good. It's finally snowed again. Not much, but enough to make it a bit white, and it makes it finally feel a bit more like the holidays. Tonight is bellydance class, so I'm looking forward to it...Then a bit of relaxing with J and figuring out what the weekend has in store.
It's odd - I have been so busy for so long that I find too much free time makes me antsy...so I'd rather have a bunch of things I *could* do and then pick at them here and there...mostly getting gifts off to family in Ontario so they'll get them on time, and putting the snow tires on (we never did paint them...the paint was the wrong color) and getting my craft room set up. I'm making a lot of gifts this year (sewing) so I need to set up and get the fabric this weekend so I can work on them. I also really should buy the arborite and taps for the kitchen...unless something is very wrong the renos start next week...I was going to do white counter but now I'm wondering if a pattern or a blue colour would be better. It certainly would wear better than just plain white. I'll have to see what my options are...I honestly don't even know :)
I'm trying not to be too annoyed as the side panels for my stove (which arrived in June) are STILL not here. I'm having it installed ~ the 15th so they'd better be here by then. If you are considering a Whirlpool or Jenair product - don't right now. They're moving factories, so good luck if you need a part for something. And yes, technically the side panels to my stove are a "part". When we picked it out they said that it was a slide in model, but not to worry, the side panels come with it and it looks like a regular stove. Lets just say if I'd actually installed it then I'd be PISSED (well OK I am still) ...the sales guy called me at home to apologise and promise they'll be here and tell me all the reasons why it's still not here, but honestly....don't care at this point. Just want the panels.
And now I must go. I've been volunteered to do more work today in an already full day, so I should get at things so I can get away to my class after work on time.
Have a great day, K?
It's odd - I have been so busy for so long that I find too much free time makes me antsy...so I'd rather have a bunch of things I *could* do and then pick at them here and there...mostly getting gifts off to family in Ontario so they'll get them on time, and putting the snow tires on (we never did paint them...the paint was the wrong color) and getting my craft room set up. I'm making a lot of gifts this year (sewing) so I need to set up and get the fabric this weekend so I can work on them. I also really should buy the arborite and taps for the kitchen...unless something is very wrong the renos start next week...I was going to do white counter but now I'm wondering if a pattern or a blue colour would be better. It certainly would wear better than just plain white. I'll have to see what my options are...I honestly don't even know :)
I'm trying not to be too annoyed as the side panels for my stove (which arrived in June) are STILL not here. I'm having it installed ~ the 15th so they'd better be here by then. If you are considering a Whirlpool or Jenair product - don't right now. They're moving factories, so good luck if you need a part for something. And yes, technically the side panels to my stove are a "part". When we picked it out they said that it was a slide in model, but not to worry, the side panels come with it and it looks like a regular stove. Lets just say if I'd actually installed it then I'd be PISSED (well OK I am still) ...the sales guy called me at home to apologise and promise they'll be here and tell me all the reasons why it's still not here, but honestly....don't care at this point. Just want the panels.
And now I must go. I've been volunteered to do more work today in an already full day, so I should get at things so I can get away to my class after work on time.
Have a great day, K?
Day 7: Wow I can do a lot in the morning :)
This morning went well. I got up at 5:15 and went on the elliptical at resistance 2 and 15% incline for 36 minutes and then 4 more minutes of cool down...the robot said I burned about 500 calories. I wanted to do 38 minutes but my asthma told me it was enough, so I didn't push it. Breathing is a good thing. In the midst of this I also did a few chores, made lunch and a load of laundry. Time was tight, but it is nice to know that after a long day I'll get home to less to do.
We're really getting organised and it's really encouraging me. After finally finishing up moving things to the computer room upstairs I've been doing some more decluttering and organising. What is left downstairs is now J's stuff, so he can do what he wants with it. We moved a bit of furniture around yesterday, and it's looking even better...not perfect, but I am quite happy with how things are now. For the first time in ages I feel like I live in a normal house...like if my Mum just showed up out of the blue I wouldn't be embarrassed to let her in, you know? It's not perfect by any means, but there has been so much clutter and disorder for so long with renos and reorganising that it's almost a physical release to have things "sort of" in order. I still have some work to do in my craft room and in a week we're renoing the kitchen so everything in it will then be downstairs in boxes (*sigh*) BUT at least it's not piles on top of other piles...it'll just be that to redo once the kitchen is fixed up. So much easier. I have to book the gasman and pick out a faucet and grout colour (light grey or blue I think)...but other than that, I think I'm ready for a parental visit and some kitchen renos. Maybe even some Christmas decorations too. Woo.
It's been a good day so far and it's not even 8 AM :)
I love it when things start out this way.
Workout CD of the week: Plastic Compilation Vo. 2
We're really getting organised and it's really encouraging me. After finally finishing up moving things to the computer room upstairs I've been doing some more decluttering and organising. What is left downstairs is now J's stuff, so he can do what he wants with it. We moved a bit of furniture around yesterday, and it's looking even better...not perfect, but I am quite happy with how things are now. For the first time in ages I feel like I live in a normal house...like if my Mum just showed up out of the blue I wouldn't be embarrassed to let her in, you know? It's not perfect by any means, but there has been so much clutter and disorder for so long with renos and reorganising that it's almost a physical release to have things "sort of" in order. I still have some work to do in my craft room and in a week we're renoing the kitchen so everything in it will then be downstairs in boxes (*sigh*) BUT at least it's not piles on top of other piles...it'll just be that to redo once the kitchen is fixed up. So much easier. I have to book the gasman and pick out a faucet and grout colour (light grey or blue I think)...but other than that, I think I'm ready for a parental visit and some kitchen renos. Maybe even some Christmas decorations too. Woo.
It's been a good day so far and it's not even 8 AM :)
I love it when things start out this way.
Workout CD of the week: Plastic Compilation Vo. 2
Day 6: much better
Well today went much better. I was up at the right time (check and rechecked the clock this time!) and I worked out to my ball DVD, and have had a yummy breakfast. Oatmeal and blueberries. Yum yum yum.
Plus, I do believe I may actually be done editing my MSc proposal (finally...who knew you could edit something so many times. It's much better for it, but I've no patience for editing...and one of mys supervisors is a stickler for grammar. Fun fun fun!). Tonight I get to hang out with my friend Heather who I never get so see because of her shift work. We don't have any grand plans...just catching up on a whole month of missed time. I can't wait...
On the plus side, I had my first weekly scale weigh in ages...I was good and didn't step on before I said I would. We have a cheapy old scale so I *think* I am down at least a half pound, but it will take another month to be sure...the needle is definitely below 134 now...more in between 134 and 133 and sort of touching 133. So I'm "<134." Woo! Going down is all I'd hoped for. It may take another week or so to see for sure. Encouraging. Definitely.
Have a great day K? :)
Plus, I do believe I may actually be done editing my MSc proposal (finally...who knew you could edit something so many times. It's much better for it, but I've no patience for editing...and one of mys supervisors is a stickler for grammar. Fun fun fun!). Tonight I get to hang out with my friend Heather who I never get so see because of her shift work. We don't have any grand plans...just catching up on a whole month of missed time. I can't wait...
On the plus side, I had my first weekly scale weigh in ages...I was good and didn't step on before I said I would. We have a cheapy old scale so I *think* I am down at least a half pound, but it will take another month to be sure...the needle is definitely below 134 now...more in between 134 and 133 and sort of touching 133. So I'm "<134." Woo! Going down is all I'd hoped for. It may take another week or so to see for sure. Encouraging. Definitely.
Have a great day K? :)
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