April 2008 Archives

Technology has spoiled me. I wish and pray to the computer gods every day that they grant me an undo button for general oops in life. I would not abuse it I would only use it for really important things like ...

1. When I press the wrong button in the elevator, it's surprising how often this happens.
2. Taking the side streets to avoid the traffic jam, then finding the street closed due to construction
3. Eating a huge handful of reeces pieces because they are there
4. Picking up the phone and it's someone I don't want to speak to
5. Most things I say after 5 beers or any amount of tequila, especially if there is a phone involved
6. Waiting til today to file my taxes online, when today is the deadline
7. Most things I volunteer for
8. Deciding to number this, the fonts gone all funky

The other night I had to say something to someone that wasn't going to be easy. In fact it was really hard and honestly I didn't want to but knew I had to ... yes I am being cryptic. Anyhow, you know when you are going to have to have a difficult conversation so you rehearse it in your head like a million times? Til you feel confident. Of course you have to imagine what the other person would say. This is were it went wrong for me. I have rehearsed this conversation for over a week. Finally the other night I plucked up the courage to say what I had to say.

I start my speech ....

They are supposed to say "Why?" or some variation on that. Instead they say "Fine".

So, I pause, then ask, "don't you want me to explain?" Cause I have 20 minutes of material memorized that is enlightening, reassuring and a confession or two, seriously good stuff. My question is answered with a more attitude spiked "No". followed by the lonely sound of the phone being hung up.

After four hours I can't handle it anymore so I call. I get their answer machine. I babble on and on. Then the machine cuts me off. So I am 99% sure my message went through. I don't want to call back and leave another message like a crazed stalker.

This was not how it was supposed to pan out ... undo undo undo

I took Monday off of work and a bunch of us went to a local bar and watched the live video stream on a big screen of the Boston Marathon.

I need to send a big shout out to Nancy who completed her first Boston Marathon! Woo Hoo Nancy!

That's her waving ... yes she still had energy to turn and wave right at the finish line!

Then there was Lance. Here is my issue. This whole sponsorship thing he has going with Nike and his Livestrong foundation, I have a problem. He obviously has to keep his shirt on to promo the logos.

Strictly from a marketing strategy ... I ask you, do you not think both would get better coverage if he had the logos printed on his chest .. and ran topless???

... and do you know what that means?

C.H.A.F.I.N.G

in all new area!

I'd post some pics but they belong on my other blog.

6.5 miles last night, in shorts. The run really sucked. I was tired, and my foot was twingey my cardio was non-existent, I felt like a 90 year old.

Today I am having a wonderful hair day, so it all balances out!

This picture is really not relevant to this post, but I think I does demonstrate the plus side of working out, and tanning.

If the cashier forgot to charge you for something, or you got the super wash when you only paid for the regular at the car wash, would you say anything?

I normally say something in restaurants, cause I think it comes out of waiter/ress pocket at the end of the night ... unless they were crap, then I sometimes forget.

I bought a charity pass to the gym in the building I work in. You get 10 visits and 2 tans for $20. There are 10 little boxes and the receptionist is supposed to initial a box when you visit.

Can you see where this is going?

Today, I had a tan (I know, but you should see my healthy glow) and a workout.

They didn't sign either box.

I didn't say anything.

If I was completely honest, it's happened before, like maybe three times.

My name is Ali and I am stealing exercise, and I don't feel guilty!

What would you do, would you say anything or would you smile and giggled inside like I did when I left the gym?

Is here!

At long last. It feels like winter has lasted 8 months this year.

Last night I joined the group for a run, it was a blissful 18/65 degrees out. With sun. In my running skirt and short sleeves.

I actually felt a bit too warm, too warm, I love it!

The group was doing mile repeats, but D and I decided to do a 6 mile run instead. I think I need to work on my endurance more than speed at the moment.

When I got home I watched the Biggest Loser, how do they lose 13 pounds in one week?

I ran just over 30kms this week. In the previous 6 weeks I have ran a grand combined total of 11km.

I am very happy, not in pain, beaming with pride and to be honest, exhausted!

That's still pretty low mileage compared to what I used to do, but even getting back into it just a little has made me realise just how time consuming running is. Don't get me wrong I love it, but now I remember why I never went to the gym or yoga, why I had to nap on a Sunday, why I went to bed early on a Saturday night.

Having the break from running forced me to take up other things, to stop me gaining weight, losing to much cardio and going insane. I like the variety and balance doing a mix of cardio, weights, yoga, swimming etc. This week I ran 4 times, did weights twice and yoga once. Which doesn't seem that bad, but I can see how quickly running will take over and I'll drop the weights and yoga.

I am going to try and have a more balanced week.

Todays run was good, in an overachiever, lungs burning kinda way. I did the first 4 miles with people I would'nt be able to run with before I was injured. For the first couple miles I just ran with them to see if I could. Then they were talking to me, since I couldn't speak or indicate in any way I was about to die I just stayed with them incase I did keel over, at least there would be witnesses.

I ran back by myself. I felt pretty good, tired from the first half, but my legs felt great.

When I got home I sat on the sofa with my coffee, within 30 minutes I was asleep. I haven't needed a nap in months.

I wasn’t that girl.

But I am.

I wish I wasn’t the type of girl who ... is protective of her heart, but I am

I wish I wasn’t the type of girl who ...is afraid of getting hurt, but I am

I wish I wasn’t the type of girl who ... is scared of becoming attached, but I am.

I wish I wasn’t the type of girl who ...dishes out advice to others but doesn’t apply it herself, but I am

I wish I wasn’t the type of girl who ... thinks with her heart not her head, but I am.

I wish I wasn’t the type of girl who ...picks up the phone and checks for a ring tone, but I am.

I wish I wasn’t the type of girl who ... spends an extra hour getting ready to achieve that natural look, but I am.

I wish I wasn’t the type of girl who ... practises what she is going to say in her head a thousand times, then when the time comes, giggles. But I am.

I wish I wasn’t the type of girl who ... spends 2 days, 4 bottles of wine and bends the ears of 3 friends convincing herself he is the wrong guy, that if he hasn’t called in 10 days he’s not into me, that if and when he ever calls I won’t return his call, that I deserve better.

I wish I wasn’t the type of girl who ... when he does call, smiles and answers.

But I am.

After reading POMs posting about her Bikram yoga experience, dizziness, blurred vision, blackouts and puking my first thought was I should get back into yoga. Seriously. There is something very wrong with me.

So last night I did a 90 minute hot yoga class.

If you haven't done or aren't familar with hot yoga read POMs explanation, she will talk you through the sights, sounds and smells.

I have to pay $16 (canadian which equates to $145 US) for the class. I could go to the gym and do yoga for free or turn up the heat in my condo and do one of the 3 yoga DVDs I own, but I like to enjoy those while lounging on the sofa sipping wine pondering how bendy those people are.

The first time I did hot yoga I thought I would hate it. I don't do well in the heat. I wilt.

To use POMs words ... it feels HOT and MOIST.

The first 5 minutes for the class feel like you are in a sauna. Then as you start to work through the poses every pore in your body exudes sweat. Within 10 minutes you are drenched, dripping on your mat and glistening. The glistening would be particularly appealing if the guy beside me was in anyway cute and if I couldn't smell his nasty feet.

I really enjoyed it, until one point when we had done a long series of standing poses involving balancing on one foot. I got a bit paranoid about standing on my bad foot. Visions of bones shattering flashed through my head. So I lay down (people lie down all the time in this class, if it gets to hot, or maybe they need a nap).

Not having breathing, posture, balance on my mind, my head was freed to wonder while I lay on the floor. I got a little panicky. I suddenly realized how f-ing hot I was. I wanted to turn to stinky toes beside me and make a wise crack about the heat. But I can't. It is a silent class. I wanted to know how long I'd been in the class, how much longer I had to stay. But there no clocks. I wasn't wearing a watch.

Trapped

There were about 2 minutes where I felt like Britney, I'd of shaved my head and run off with a sleazy manager if it would of got me out of there.

Then I was pulled back to reality by the soothing sounds of the instructors voice. Does yoga make their voices that way, or do they have that voice and think, I should be a yogi?

I made it all the way through the class. When you leave and get hit by the cool air outside, it is wonderful. There is something really cleansing about it. I felt revitalized when I was done. I was really tired before the class, but afterwards my energy levels were up. My skin looks and feels great. I've had dry skin all winter and today is the first day it doesn't look or feel dry and I didn't have to moisturize.

I don't think I could do this a couple times a week. I couldn't afford it. Not just the $16 per class fee. But the cute outfits you need to buy don't come cheap.

Tonight my goal is to run for 1 hour!

I ran last night.

I ran last night for 45 minutes.

I ran last night for 45 minutes without stopping.

I ran last night for 45 minutes without stopping and with no discomfort from my foot or toes.

I am so happy I could cry!

Tonight, inspired by POM I am going to hot yoga. I'll sweat for 1.5 hours. I am not sure which is tougher, 1.5 hours of yoga .... sweating ... or not talking. I am leaning towards silence.