Wow, ladies! I am just getting caught up after the holidays...I love opening the door to this forum and stepping in for awhile! I love reading your stories, reading your advice and seeing your pictures (which are all beautiful!)
And Michele...even though we may not be able to answer your questions, we're here with our virtual ears on, a virtual hug and a giggle!
Did I read it in the challenge forum correctly the EN Chicas Rule won the run challenge?! And thanks to whoever put the team name next to my name (Nemo, was that you?). I tried to make it out as much as I could! We really do rock!
Can I juggle raising a new puppy AND train for my 3rd Ironman??
Is it really going to snow in Chattanooga tomorrow?
How good it is that "we" can unload pretty much anything here!!
Going to do my Vdot test @ ; the gym today. Skeered.
Good luck on the Vdot!
Good question about the puppy. I thought I was the only one in the world who felt that commitment did impact my training. Still wondering about how I will leave her for hours on end on the weekends in the summer? Guess I'll start later and, with any luck, the boys can pick up some of the slack depending on their summer jobs. It's a real issue--although Cali will be that much older--and already at 8 months it's a world of difference.
my son asked me if Rudy could stay with me thru april when he could get a house with a yard.... now, I said you gotta ask your DAD cuz you know I am already in love with him! 3.5 weeks later and I have been outside every day with him and he has such joy for running that it is just hard to be grumpy about the cold!! We have another lesson on Friday but he is so much better behaved and is now chilled out on a blanket in the kitchen so he can see me!! I have watched videos or googled Irish Setters and they need regular exercise which college son is not doing but I don't want to take away his dog either as he is such comfort! and even encouraged him to take up running or walking in the great parks up in college town....but I had to smile Gina that you mentioned can I train with a puppy?? for an Ironman and if I keep the dog that will make three of us with an under 1 dog,,, granted better than an under 1 baby!! but the similarities are there: regular routine, watching what they eat and when it comes out! and constant guidance and discipline. anyways I am enjoying him one more week and then the decision will be made and I am staying out of it. Husband said NO Dog, after our dachsund died last February and haven't actually checked but I think Rudy has dug up all of my flower bulbs that I planted and maybe reburied them as I tell the kids to sweep back the dirt to hide the evidence! we have a pool and very small plot of grass so even here he has to be taken somewhere to roam .....I am sure when I have grandkids I will be nutty as this dog and I are pretty tight! he just chased the Swifter broom around the house while I swept and like a big kid refused to go outside cuz it is too cold!! uh uh he said... (having just ran 3 - 4 miles himself this morning with no backtalk!). and yes the Hamster, Snuggles is still alive much to my amazement and my daughter has written up a schedule! for each day of the week! terribly funny as you know who she gets all that from! she has bought the hamster a little wheel and treats and she and her friends and brothers even take it out to play with it. not me so far! She says she can "train him"....Possible sick son and snow coming to me so today's high of 36 might mean my last day for bike ride this week! with 7 mph winds morning temps of 19 felt very cold to me and my feet were frozen which was good impetus to pick them up quickly!! and in fact all of my cumbersome warm clothing made it difficult to move but I did start to feel some heat coursing thru my body!
Hey gals, I just read through the last few pages today. I'm finding the relationship discussion interesting as I'm mostly happily single and ambivalently dating. I'm trying to fill my dating life to the brim now before the real training begins because I know I won't make a good impression as I fall asleep into my Saturday night dinner plate or give the wrong impression when I'm constantly saying, "I can't tonight, I have to get up early tomorrow morning." (or maybe that can be a convenient way to blow off the yucky people, who knows?) The respect thing that one of you mentioned really resonated with me as I've found this to be a key feature in a good partner. My friend once described me as "easily amused, rarely impressed" meaning that I enjoy just about everyone's company but can never really seem to find someone that I truly respect and look up to AND find attractive. It would be my dream to find a fellow athlete that trains and races at about my caliber (or better), which you would think would be simple but...
With regard to the dog thing, my girls are old and view my training outings as a treasured opportunity to snore on the couch. For younger dogs I would recommend the Kong stuffed with carrots and cheese and bacon bits and peanut butter, etc., and frozen overnight. The mental somersaults needed to figure this out is as exhausting as the actual eating. I've also heard good things (from a professional dog trainer) about the Buster Cube, which you can use to dispense an entire meal one morsel at a time.
Can I juggle raising a new puppy AND train for my 3rd Ironman??
Is it really going to snow in Chattanooga tomorrow?
How good it is that "we" can unload pretty much anything here!!
Going to do my Vdot test @ ; the gym today. Skeered.
New puppy...but it will be what? your 6th lab? So you'll have experience on your side. Annabelle will be a baby during OS and Basic Prep...hopefully, by Race Prep, she'll start her training as your running partner.
All the cold weather and snow in the south is freakish to me. You gals live there to NOT have to deal with Tundra conditions!
Gina- I want a dog, but not a puppy. Of course my biggest fear is giving the dog proper attention. If I could get home mid-day reliably, then I would do it, but as this point, they'd be alone for 10 hours per day. So I hear your concern. It's tough. I have bargained that if we ever get to the point where I work part-time, then we get a dog. It is a commitment that I don' want to welch on.
Sad story- Got a puppy after college. BF at the time shared care, so she was never alone for long. When we split up, I had to return puppy to the shelter. I was working 12-14 hour days. It broke my heart and I swore I'd ever do that again.
Kitima- Relationships. I think Respect is huge. If you haven't read it, consider reading "The 5 Love Languages". I read it years ago and it changed my thinking. Cliff note version: there are 5 main ways people express love- time, talking, service, touch, and I can't remember (sorry). If your spouse does acts of service- changing the oil in your car, making sure you have gas to get around, etc. Then he expresses love in what he does, even if he never says it. Time means it's important to you to spend time together, you get the idea. I realized I am a time and touch person. I could not deal with a service partner, I'd prefer a talker.
Also, my thrice married BFF gave me this sage advice: "Choose the flaws you can live with a find a partner with those flaws." I had 2 long term relationships with addictive personality types. I could not fix them or tolerate the behavior. I left both. Took that advice to heart and found a man that is perfect for me. My BFF laughs and says she likes him but could never be in a relationship with him, but she would have been fine with my previous guys. To each his own.
I believe most folks walk away because it's been easy and when the tough times come, they forget it was easy for so long.
I was thinking about Cali puppy and the whole puppy issue while running today. Sometimes all it takes is--ta da!--money. I can always have my dog walker come on peak training days if the boys are not around. She comes 2x/week now on my client meeting days. Cali loves her. After the workouts, I will still have a good part of the day to train her and spend time with her. It will take a little juggling, but I think it can work out. Just like with my kids...I have to make sure all things under my care are cared for the way I need them to be. Type-As--we're harder on ourselves than anybody else.
Michele- that's an interesting set of observations about relationships. When Joe and I were first dating, it took YEARS (plural, not kidding) before he would utter the L word. It was practically a joke (and about that time Ghost was in the theaters and I nearly smacked him when he wanted to try the "ditto" line). Anyway- he's well beyond that stage now (more comfortable in his old age I guess) but still, the times I feel how much he loves me is those times when he takes care of some little issue (like making me pancakes after a long run or changing the oil in the car without me even asking). Looking back, that totally makes sense, after all, it was the time I saw him fix his mother's dishwasher on a Sunday afternoon without her even mentioning that it was broken that I said "That's the man I'm going to marry".
Oh- and I'm with you on the desire for a dog, but the knowledge that I really couldn't give it the time/attention it needs (at this time in my life anyway). But some day- I'm gonna have a dog!
I have really enjoyed all the honesty and sharing you all have done on the relationships subject. I won't go into my though 1) because its just too long and sordid 2) I have to get going to pick the kids up in about 15 mins and 3) because I am busy trying to keep Esther otherwise occupied at the moment . Which segues nicely into the dog's & having time to train, etc. I can honestly say this puppy has really screwed up my training schedule!!! Like, for instance, normally I would have gotten my core, pilates, strength, etc. stuff done before I go get the kids (or even better before they get up in the AM, but not a chance of that with her ready to play at 5 AM), but she has been in her crate all morning while I ran errands so now she needs my time and some exercise and since it is like FREAKIN FREEZING out there!!! I am throwing her toy inside and typing instead . That said, a spring time puppy and as Kit said especially if you are not in the Frozen Tundra is much easier. I have cursed Esther's Mother on several occasions for being so inconsiderate as to come into heat and need to be bred when she did and I cursed Esther when she pooped on the floor this morning after being outside for 20 mins and not going!!!!! and I was out there freezing to death....brrrrrr. But I really love her and she is beautiful and has a great personality and my boys love her and by the time things really pick up I will have her trained to the electric fence and she will be able go outside by herself! and probably dig everything up like Rudy is doing and then I can curse her some more.
Anyway, quick funny - I went to a Bikram Yoga class on Monday (did Vdot test Sat and was stuck in Lex all day Mon with some time to kill between appts) I have done a lot of yoga over the years and didn't think much of it - until yesterday and I couldn't friggin move - I WAS SO SORE! I couldn't believe it. So FTP test plans went down the drain when I couldn't throw my leg over the bike without wincing. No time for it today - so tomorrow it is.
Gina - love the picture of you on the bike at IMAZ!!! really awesome - one more vote for getting that baby blown up and putting it on your wall!
Gotta run ---
Oh yea - when you have a puppy in the house make sure the kids clean up all the nerf darts or the puppy poop become a lovely spotted orange and brown color!!!! Kinda of alarming when you first see it - then you figure out what it is
Gina, I think you're the only one who can truly decide if you are ready to take on a puppy and Ironman training. She won't be your first dog, though, so it should be a little easier. The goodie-stuffed frozen Kong is a great idea for occupying puppies and dogs alike - sometimes I mix my dog's kibble with peanut butter, stuff it in a Kong, freeze it, and serve it to her for dinner. She loves it and it keeps her busy for a while!
The local paper ran an article that it is supposed to be colder here in Houston on Friday than it will be in McMurdo station, Antarctica that day. That makes me so unhappy! Because my boss will only allow us to heat the front lobby and exam rooms, I'll be wearing about quadruple layers to work back in the treatment area. Grrr!
First, thanks for all the kind words about my IMAZ picture. It was a quick snap taken by Susanna's dad. MUCH better than the high $$$$ ASI stuff!!
Now, the puppy "stuff". This little one will be my 6th Lab, so I do have the experience of raising them. I believe VERY strongly in raising/training them correctly. The adage, "there are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners" holds very true for me. I have already signed us up for obedience classes starting in March. Additionally, I've had 2 Labs off and on for many years. We put one down @ ;14 just before we moved to TN, really a blessing in disguise as I was worried about moving her. Also, dog doors RULE!! When Indie was a puppy she was going in/out of the dog door in 2 days.
Anyway, "Anabelle" is coming to be a part of our household and I am EXCITED !! Remind me of that when I am a bit crazy with training her and training me!!
Now, the Vdot stuff. Ran it @ ;the gym because it has been so fricking cold here. Let's just say I've got work to do!!!
Expecting 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow late. I know, minor to you folks in the Tundra, but it creates absolute chaos down South.
. The adage, "there are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners" holds very true for me. I have already signed us up for obedience classes starting in March.
Owner obedience class? What a great idea! he he he.. couldn't resist. Sorry a bit slap happy after a long work day.
Nemo/Michele/Olivia- think the ticket for us is to sign up to be godpuppymothers to all the cutie new pups! It KILLS me to see all the black lab pics, but same story here- not enough time/ resources to take good loving care of a pup. Besides, my furniture is still recovering from "kitten" stage. Gina- same song and dance here. Winter storm watch here tomorrow/Fri for snow starting early tomorrow am then back to SUPER cold temps for Sat. This is week #2 of cold.. brrrrrr! Not to mention, my hind end doth protesteth the OS bike workouts!
Gina--I am so with you, which is why I fret about the training and the puppy. I take the responsibility of her life and her training as seriously as anything else important to me in my life. And all of it chews up time. This may sound stupid, but I actually didn't want to leave her, either. I so enjoy my time with her, and I thought it was important I be around in the early months. You are so experienced, and that will help. But memories of puppies can fade a bit, I bet. She took over my life mind, body and spirit until about 5 months--now mind you, I haven't had a puppy since a kid--and how much of that did I really do. (Zero. ) Now at 8 months, I can actually see how training and having her can work. So my advice is don't let being overwhelmed at first color the future. It will resolve and life opens up again.
Hey Ladies I am just back checking the forums since I had surgery last week. Haven't been cleared yet for aerobic work but just posted to the coaches where i should pick up. I hate the way anesthesia kicks your butt and kills your oxygen capacity for several weeks after. My HR on the bike easy spin with no resistance really is at my aerobic riding rate onthe road! TOmorrow hope to be cleared to run again and swim. ANd i just ran 10.5 miles 9 days ago! ANyway, i hope all is well with the EN women and it's good to be back, somewhat.
ALso, if any of you who are in my area of NC are coming to do the White Lake half or sprint May 8th I have rented a house so let me know, there will be room. good training! mary
it is wild here! gonna have to scoot, kids are playing indoor hide and seek and girls are shrieking! son with "sore throat" is chasing them, another son getting ready for CO ski trip, one went to play bball and another one watching sports TV. Fortunately Rudy is chilled on his "blanket". Will it snow tomorrow?? not sure but I have food! will school be out again?? oh, the dog is barking now! QUIET!!! smile. AND big brother has locked the two girls in the dog kennel! it gets better! the dog has just jumped up on the counter to lick some leftovers while my daughter has yelled to me from the kennel to bring her an apple! They are scared to come out of the kennel as they have hidden big brothers toys! and he is standing there with a nerf gun ready to blast them! family sitcoms have nothing on this life! Also I have been thinking.....
on the subject of marriage: my parents were divorced when I was two and I didn't get to meet my Dad until I was 16, she took me out of the country and he didn't pay alimony....Both parents remarried and had other children and both wanted to forget about the first marriage as mistakes were made in it. They both matured and made good choices. But those early years were stressful on me (and everybody I am sure) and had many nightmares and still get them actually. At age 16, hard to be close to my Dad emotionally or physically and he pretty much just sends me a card on the annual occasions. Now that I have said all of that, I thought that was all normal. I met my husband in HS and his parents were still together, lived in the same house for years, and his grandparents were close, in fact his whole family. He hadn't moved about either and had friends since kindergarten. I wanted that for my children. I wanted to provide stability, safety and family. so my One Thing in my own marriage, has been determined by my own experience = no divorce. I don't want what happened to me to happen to my own children. I want my daughter to be happy and carefree with the love of a doting Dad, I want stability for all five of my children and my home to be a refuge and with that I decided to stay at home with them. I wanted the very best start in their lives for them and I committed to that awhile back. I have made many mistakes in my marriage. many. and many parenting too now that I think of it! and so really don't feel equipped to offer advice although I have been married 25 years! when I reconnected with God through first attempts at running! I was drawn to Him to give over my problems and even recently recognizing and coming to grips with who I am, why? and what? I pray a lot about my marriage and good advice given to me by somebody "don't try and change him, just change yourself"
2009: was a hard working year for our marriage. What I am bad about doing is leaving the kids! logistics and childcare... but one of the best things we did was get away.. this was anniversary #25. much better than a marriage retreat! we just got away and vegged. hard for hubby to leave work and hard for me to leave the family! sometimes the busyness of life gets in the way of the relationship. Puerta Vallarta. we finally made it out the door and went to dinner at 10 p.m.!! after watching the sunset at the beach.
the thing that my husband did for me was got involved in my training. He came to a sprint tri and IMLP. He did some centuries, did situps, stretching with me, and saw me at my worst and my best! He got up and drove the car for illumination while I rode my bike in the dark at 5 a.m. on my RR! He joined a Mt bike team with me and I even got him to the track. and then he started swimming. He has been sick the last 6 weeks with vertigo and has been bummed that his fitness has waned. He loves his work and has provided financially for all of us. In fact I never worry about money or insurance, bills but I know he does. He doesn't run around the track bouncing up and down exclaiming "this track is so bouncy!! my new shoes feel so great!!" like I do with my hands up in the air! and he doesn't find God out on the run like me but prefers intellectual reading, & quiet time in the privacy of his office. But the best thing that has kept us together? is our commitment to God.
Phew!! Our internet connection is really slow today for some reason...makes "forum-ing" really tough! Maybe it's the cold and snow that's causing the issues!
I just spent a total of 2 hours in to and from snowy traffic in the effort to make my hair appointment. Ugh! The snow and rush hour traffic are not a good combo. I often take public transportation, but thought that today I might want to get home a little faster after the haircut. UGH! That's what I get for being that one additional car on the road. I'm exhausted from the effort!! Tomorrow it's back on the train where I can relax and read and not worry about someone hitting my poor little car!
Good to hear you're on this side of your surgery, Mary. No rush to get back to this training stuff. It ain't going anywhere! Rest, heal, recover.
Love the idea of godpuppymother-hood, Kris! Perfect. If only we were closer to some of these little fuzz balls we could be backup dog-walkers...
Yes I think Linda put the recipe in there.... and that is where the pic went, well they asked me for a pic of me in EN gear and didn't actually know what for!! but hey that one was authentic, right after New Orleans 70.3 so the sweat is real, the flush is not makeup and the braids made it all day! and that is water dripping out of them cuz it was so hot that day!
well school is in session so far so I gotta scoot!! m
Oh Marianne- that pic of you in the EN kit is adorable!! Thanks for pointing it out Olivia- I would have missed it!
Well, as you all probably know I've had a little set back with my calf. So this morning I went to the YMCA and did a water-running workout. My first thought was "oh joy, here we go again". But I had my iPod and I put on the "EN Inspiration" playlist that I put together last season (and have added to it here and there). The first song was "One Thing" which really helped me put my head in the right place and I was ready to do those 1:30 intervals of hard effort. As I listened to those songs I just got more and more thankful for each of you. We share so much good and bad here- I feel like we are all sisters! Thank you all for being there for me- even when you don't know you are doing it!
Oh- PS, ladies when we get to the EN Dinner at IMoo- you KNOW we have got to put together an awesome playlist for our background music and you also KNOW I'm gonna make you all dance with me when "We Are Family" comes up!!!!
Nemo- 2 years later and I still love that song!! New one to add: Evacuate the Dance Floor by Cascada
Kris - Obedience classes for the owners is about right! Especially when the pups take so many cues from us. As for the house, I have put up multiple baby gates to define her area!! She also will be crate trained.
The snow is coming. Will see how much it amounts too. It better NOT mess with my afternoon hair appt!!!
yes, yes, yes on the obedience class for owners! I tell people all the time when they bring their dogs to me to train - "if you are not going to learn how to use what I am teaching the dog you might as well drive down the road and throw hundred dollar bills out the window!" Of course I am happy to be the recipient of them instead, but it makes me sad when I know the dogs won't get the time, attention or direction they need, especially after I have spent a lot of time with them and get to love them like my own. For that reason I don't do much obedience work anymore, just too depressing most of the time. So many just want to drop them off and then pick them up "fixed" - after they screwed it up to begin with! sorry - rant over, but I will say how wonderfully refreshing it is to hear this group say 1) they know what commitment is involved and either do or don't have the time and/or inclination and thus make responsible decisions and 2) how much pleasure you all really get from your relationships with your dogs and I know they get the same from you . If I get one more call from a parent that wants to "teach their child responsibility" by buying them a puppy I might scream!! oh yeah sorry - rant really done now
Kids are out of school today, but I didn't even think to check the closings before taking off this AM because - well - there was no snow then! So I brought the other kids that we carpool with home to play for a while. My original plan was to hustle on home to get the FTP test done - so far I have read the forums, done laundry, thought about dinner (briefly), made bread (which smells really yummy BTW) and some online banking and I need to go to the grocery store (that should be fun!). The later the day gets the less likely that test is to happen..... as soon as the other kids get picked up.... that is what I am saying now. Esther is having a blast running around in the snow (yes, it is finally arriving) and playing with the kids. I should be taking pics.
well we thought school would be cancelled but nope it wasn't making getting ready sludgy this mornin!! 19 degrees with 15mph winds made my 3 mile run with Rudy chilly and the trail icy so picked running around the industrial park, nothing scenic and wide open spaces meant nice and windy!! but warmed up nice enough but couldn't exactly pick up any speed!! and son #4 has strep just got in from doc appt, so was gone for about 2.5 hours and pulling into driveway when son #3 calls me from school... so have called doc to get more meds. terribly windy here and now up to 22 and heading out to pharmacy to get meds. the dog didn't seem to mind the cold but found a frozen bagel on the ground in parking lot which he thought I would let him keep since he looked so adorable with it.. but nope, made him "give it", he tried to tell me that it was better than the frozen, dead roadkill that he also sniffed at!! he was "rowdy " today.. and didn't want to get his gentle collar on... and I just looked at him and said "I had five kids so nothing new on me buddy" and unlocked the car, got back in it and sat there with leash in hand... he ran off, ran back and I could see his wheels turning in that dog skull of his... he got closer and closer to the car and yes it was freezing cold and I thought I am nutty to be out here in this frigid cold weather by myself waiting on a mutt!! he could see that I was about to start the car up so he decided to obey!! and yep I made him sit too while he tossed his head back and forth and those ears get in teh way. okay sickness calls....
oh yes, "one for the Mom" as I told Joshua you have strep and doc confirmed it with the test! signs of strep as we have had it many x. and actually he told me "Mom, I think I have strep". Sick on Thursday means get to the doc today before the weekend!
1. normally high fever (but not this time!)
2. very sore throat, hard to swallow, feels rough, get flashlight out and the blunt end of the butter knife and look down their throat, "aaah" checking for gross white spots.
3. have them cup their hands and smell their breath = stinky= sign of strep, can also have a rash on body.
4. okay when my kids' appetites go down or they don't wanna go to school and if I use the words "well you will have to take a nap" and they say okay... then the illness has gotten worse and normally a doc visit.
5. the Look = sunken eyes, pale, glassy eyes and just don't look like themselves. When they stop harrassing their siblings and just lay on the couch! and if teenage boys ?? when they tolerate a hug from mom and/or letting you touch their foreheads to feel the fever...
6. Treatment: I give Motrin to help reduce inflammation & help with pain, and lots of fluids before we get to doc, then when you get to doc, one son is allergic, but a shot of pencillin works the fastest and no extra $insurance to pay for pharmacy so just accept the kid will wail with the shot but so much faster of a recovery!! back at school sooner too so not so much homework. but if not, we got a ZPac today and wanna get that going soon so he won't be contagious.
** anyways so glad that I got my bike testing done yesterday, my swim TT the other day as I will miss swimming today, got in a run with the dog this morning and have groceries in the house!! so out the door! m
If I get one more call from a parent that wants to "teach their child responsibility" by buying them a puppy I might scream!!
@Robin--We could sit with a coffee and talk for hours about how much is wrong with that statement--on every level.
One funny thing...when we got Cali this summer, and my boys at home--ages 20, 18, and 16--stepped up, and were expected to take shifts with the puppy. I mean, c'mon--these are near adults. After a few nights of getting up to let the puppy out everu few hours, my 20 y/o said, slumped over his cereal bowl, exhausted, said "Everyone I know should do this. This is the best deterrent to teenage pregnancy ever." Who knew she'd be my ambassador for that!
Oh Ladies i love the discussion. Thanks for your thoughts. I am single also, and sometimes it's hard doing everything. I have 4 cats (2 special needs ones) and one dog and the dog really cuts into your training time, but i am fortunate to have good friends and neighbors and enough money to pay for animal care. The dog is the highest after my mortgage in the money demands; but i love her so. and the cats love her also. for the man side, at my age (50's) many of my friends are younger and it's soo hard to find a guy who matches you in fitness, and/or is able to tolerate your devotion to your lifestyle and be supportive. i just keep plugging; but i love my doggie and kitty kids
The dog is the highest after my mortgage in the money demands;
Oh my god, YES! I don't do doggie day care, but the vet bills...my mom suggested that I ask the office if I could have a reserved parking spot. That, and I believe I'm single- handedly keeping the local froofy pet store in business with the 30-lb bags of specialty hypoallergenic dog food. $56 a bag!!! (They deliver for free though, saving me oodles of time and stress - I do love my froofy pet store owners).
@ Robin and Linda, can I join you in that conversation? Getting a dog to "teach children responsibility" ranks high on the bad idea list, as does breeding your cross-eyed, underbite-mouthed, allergy ridden puppy mill dog so that your kids can experience "the miracle of birth". Oops, sorry about the rant!
@Marianne, that is a really cute picture! Hope no one else in your family gets the strep.
Comments
the Blank post! well, I went to edit and made some deletions and then lost internet so just had blank screen!
And Michele...even though we may not be able to answer your questions, we're here with our virtual ears on, a virtual hug and a giggle!
Did I read it in the challenge forum correctly the EN Chicas Rule won the run challenge?! And thanks to whoever put the team name next to my name (Nemo, was that you?). I tried to make it out as much as I could! We really do rock!
Thoughts for the morning:
Can I juggle raising a new puppy AND train for my 3rd Ironman??
Is it really going to snow in Chattanooga tomorrow?
How good it is that "we" can unload pretty much anything here!!
Going to do my Vdot test @ ; the gym today. Skeered.
Good luck on the Vdot!
Good question about the puppy. I thought I was the only one in the world who felt that commitment did impact my training. Still wondering about how I will leave her for hours on end on the weekends in the summer? Guess I'll start later and, with any luck, the boys can pick up some of the slack depending on their summer jobs. It's a real issue--although Cali will be that much older--and already at 8 months it's a world of difference.
my son asked me if Rudy could stay with me thru april when he could get a house with a yard.... now, I said you gotta ask your DAD cuz you know I am already in love with him! 3.5 weeks later and I have been outside every day with him and he has such joy for running that it is just hard to be grumpy about the cold!! We have another lesson on Friday but he is so much better behaved and is now chilled out on a blanket in the kitchen so he can see me!! I have watched videos or googled Irish Setters and they need regular exercise which college son is not doing but I don't want to take away his dog either as he is such comfort! and even encouraged him to take up running or walking in the great parks up in college town....but I had to smile Gina that you mentioned can I train with a puppy?? for an Ironman and if I keep the dog that will make three of us with an under 1 dog,,, granted better than an under 1 baby!! but the similarities are there: regular routine, watching what they eat and when it comes out!
and constant guidance and discipline. anyways I am enjoying him one more week and then the decision will be made and I am staying out of it. Husband said NO Dog, after our dachsund died last February and haven't actually checked but I think Rudy has dug up all of my flower bulbs that I planted and maybe reburied them as I tell the kids to sweep back the dirt to hide the evidence! we have a pool and very small plot of grass so even here he has to be taken somewhere to roam 
.....I am sure when I have grandkids I will be nutty as this dog and I are pretty tight! he just chased the Swifter broom around the house while I swept and like a big kid refused to go outside cuz it is too cold!! uh uh he said... (having just ran 3 - 4 miles himself this morning with no backtalk!). and yes the Hamster, Snuggles is still alive much to my amazement and my daughter has written up a schedule! for each day of the week! terribly funny as you know who she gets all that from! she has bought the hamster a little wheel and treats and she and her friends and brothers even take it out to play with it. not me so far! She says she can "train him"....Possible sick son and snow coming to me so today's high of 36 might mean my last day for bike ride this week! with 7 mph winds 
morning temps of 19 felt very cold to me and my feet were frozen which was good impetus to pick them up quickly!! and in fact all of my cumbersome warm clothing made it difficult to move but I did start to feel some heat coursing thru my body!
With regard to the dog thing, my girls are old and view my training outings as a treasured opportunity to snore on the couch. For younger dogs I would recommend the Kong stuffed with carrots and cheese and bacon bits and peanut butter, etc., and frozen overnight. The mental somersaults needed to figure this out is as exhausting as the actual eating. I've also heard good things (from a professional dog trainer) about the Buster Cube, which you can use to dispense an entire meal one morsel at a time.
New puppy...but it will be what? your 6th lab? So you'll have experience on your side. Annabelle will be a baby during OS and Basic Prep...hopefully, by Race Prep, she'll start her training as your running partner.
All the cold weather and snow in the south is freakish to me. You gals live there to NOT have to deal with Tundra conditions!
Good luck with your run test!
Gina- I want a dog, but not a puppy. Of course my biggest fear is giving the dog proper attention. If I could get home mid-day reliably, then I would do it, but as this point, they'd be alone for 10 hours per day. So I hear your concern. It's tough. I have bargained that if we ever get to the point where I work part-time, then we get a dog. It is a commitment that I don' want to welch on.
Sad story- Got a puppy after college. BF at the time shared care, so she was never alone for long. When we split up, I had to return puppy to the shelter. I was working 12-14 hour days. It broke my heart and I swore I'd ever do that again.
Kitima- Relationships. I think Respect is huge. If you haven't read it, consider reading "The 5 Love Languages". I read it years ago and it changed my thinking. Cliff note version: there are 5 main ways people express love- time, talking, service, touch, and I can't remember (sorry). If your spouse does acts of service- changing the oil in your car, making sure you have gas to get around, etc. Then he expresses love in what he does, even if he never says it. Time means it's important to you to spend time together, you get the idea. I realized I am a time and touch person. I could not deal with a service partner, I'd prefer a talker.
Also, my thrice married BFF gave me this sage advice: "Choose the flaws you can live with a find a partner with those flaws." I had 2 long term relationships with addictive personality types. I could not fix them or tolerate the behavior. I left both. Took that advice to heart and found a man that is perfect for me. My BFF laughs and says she likes him but could never be in a relationship with him, but she would have been fine with my previous guys. To each his own.
I believe most folks walk away because it's been easy and when the tough times come, they forget it was easy for so long.
I'll stop now.
I was thinking about Cali puppy and the whole puppy issue while running today. Sometimes all it takes is--ta da!--money. I can always have my dog walker come on peak training days if the boys are not around. She comes 2x/week now on my client meeting days. Cali loves her. After the workouts, I will still have a good part of the day to train her and spend time with her. It will take a little juggling, but I think it can work out. Just like with my kids...I have to make sure all things under my care are cared for the way I need them to be. Type-As--we're harder on ourselves than anybody else.
Oh- and I'm with you on the desire for a dog, but the knowledge that I really couldn't give it the time/attention it needs (at this time in my life anyway). But some day- I'm gonna have a dog!
I have really enjoyed all the honesty and sharing you all have done on the relationships subject. I won't go into my though 1) because its just too long and sordid 2) I have to get going to pick the kids up in about 15 mins and 3) because I am busy trying to keep Esther otherwise occupied at the moment
. Which segues nicely into the dog's & having time to train, etc. I can honestly say this puppy has really screwed up my training schedule!!! 
Like, for instance, normally I would have gotten my core, pilates, strength, etc. stuff done before I go get the kids (or even better before they get up in the AM, but not a chance of that with her ready to play at 5 AM), but she has been in her crate all morning while I ran errands so now she needs my time and some exercise and since it is like FREAKIN FREEZING out there!!! I am throwing her toy inside and typing instead 
. That said, a spring time puppy and as Kit said especially if you are not in the Frozen Tundra is much easier. I have cursed Esther's Mother on several occasions for being so inconsiderate as to come into heat and need to be bred when she did 
and I cursed Esther when she pooped on the floor this morning after being outside for 20 mins and not going!!!!!
and I was out there freezing to death....brrrrrr. But I really love her and she is beautiful and has a great personality and my boys love her and by the time things really pick up I will have her trained to the electric fence and she will be able go outside by herself! and probably dig everything up like Rudy is doing and then I can curse her some more
.
Anyway, quick funny - I went to a Bikram Yoga class on Monday (did Vdot test Sat and was stuck in Lex all day Mon with some time to kill between appts) I have done a lot of yoga over the years and didn't think much of it - until yesterday and I couldn't friggin move - I WAS SO SORE!
I couldn't believe it. So FTP test plans went down the drain when I couldn't throw my leg over the bike without wincing. No time for it today - so tomorrow it is.
Gina - love the picture of you on the bike at IMAZ!!! really awesome - one more vote for getting that baby blown up and putting it on your wall!
Gotta run ---
Oh yea - when you have a puppy in the house make sure the kids clean up all the nerf darts or the puppy poop become a lovely spotted orange and brown color!!!! Kinda of alarming when you first see it - then you figure out what it is
The local paper ran an article that it is supposed to be colder here in Houston on Friday than it will be in McMurdo station, Antarctica that day. That makes me so unhappy! Because my boss will only allow us to heat the front lobby and exam rooms, I'll be wearing about quadruple layers to work back in the treatment area. Grrr!
First, thanks for all the kind words about my IMAZ picture. It was a quick snap taken by Susanna's dad. MUCH better than the high $$$$ ASI stuff!!
Now, the puppy "stuff". This little one will be my 6th Lab, so I do have the experience of raising them. I believe VERY strongly in raising/training them correctly. The adage, "there are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners" holds very true for me. I have already signed us up for obedience classes starting in March. Additionally, I've had 2 Labs off and on for many years. We put one down @ ;14 just before we moved to TN, really a blessing in disguise as I was worried about moving her. Also, dog doors RULE!! When Indie was a puppy she was going in/out of the dog door in 2 days.
Anyway, "Anabelle" is coming to be a part of our household and I am EXCITED !! Remind me of that when I am a bit crazy with training her and training me!!
Now, the Vdot stuff. Ran it @ ;the gym because it has been so fricking cold here. Let's just say I've got work to do!!!
Expecting 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow late. I know, minor to you folks in the Tundra, but it creates absolute chaos down South.
Owner obedience class? What a great idea! he he he.. couldn't resist. Sorry a bit slap happy after a long work day.
Nemo/Michele/Olivia- think the ticket for us is to sign up to be godpuppymothers to all the cutie new pups! It KILLS me to see all the black lab pics, but same story here- not enough time/ resources to take good loving care of a pup. Besides, my furniture is still recovering from "kitten" stage.
Gina- same song and dance here. Winter storm watch here tomorrow/Fri for snow starting early tomorrow am then back to SUPER cold temps for Sat. This is week #2 of cold.. brrrrrr! Not to mention, my hind end doth protesteth the OS bike workouts!
Gina--I am so with you, which is why I fret about the training and the puppy. I take the responsibility of her life and her training as seriously as anything else important to me in my life. And all of it chews up time. This may sound stupid, but I actually didn't want to leave her, either. I so enjoy my time with her, and I thought it was important I be around in the early months. You are so experienced, and that will help. But memories of puppies can fade a bit, I bet. She took over my life mind, body and spirit until about 5 months--now mind you, I haven't had a puppy since a kid--and how much of that did I really do. (Zero.
) Now at 8 months, I can actually see how training and having her can work. So my advice is don't let being overwhelmed at first color the future. It will resolve and life opens up again.
I am just back checking the forums since I had surgery last week. Haven't been cleared yet for aerobic work but just posted to the coaches where i should pick up. I hate the way anesthesia kicks your butt and kills your oxygen capacity for several weeks after. My HR on the bike easy spin with no resistance really is at my aerobic riding rate onthe road! TOmorrow hope to be cleared to run again and swim. ANd i just ran 10.5 miles 9 days ago!
ANyway, i hope all is well with the EN women and it's good to be back, somewhat.
ALso, if any of you who are in my area of NC are coming to do the White Lake half or sprint May 8th I have rented a house so let me know, there will be room.
good training!
mary
good Mary was wondering how you were doing!!
it is wild here! gonna have to scoot, kids are playing indoor hide and seek and girls are shrieking! son with "sore throat" is chasing them, another son getting ready for CO ski trip, one went to play bball and another one watching sports TV. Fortunately Rudy is chilled on his "blanket". Will it snow tomorrow?? not sure but I have food! will school be out again?? oh, the dog is barking now! QUIET!!! smile. AND big brother has locked the two girls in the dog kennel! it gets better! the dog has just jumped up on the counter to lick some leftovers while my daughter has yelled to me from the kennel to bring her an apple! They are scared to come out of the kennel as they have hidden big brothers toys! and he is standing there with a nerf gun ready to blast them! family sitcoms have nothing on this life! Also I have been thinking.....
on the subject of marriage: my parents were divorced when I was two and I didn't get to meet my Dad until I was 16, she took me out of the country and he didn't pay alimony....Both parents remarried and had other children and both wanted to forget about the first marriage as mistakes were made in it. They both matured and made good choices. But those early years were stressful on me (and everybody I am sure) and had many nightmares and still get them actually. At age 16, hard to be close to my Dad emotionally or physically and he pretty much just sends me a card on the annual occasions. Now that I have said all of that, I thought that was all normal. I met my husband in HS and his parents were still together, lived in the same house for years, and his grandparents were close, in fact his whole family. He hadn't moved about either and had friends since kindergarten. I wanted that for my children. I wanted to provide stability, safety and family. so my One Thing in my own marriage, has been determined by my own experience = no divorce. I don't want what happened to me to happen to my own children. I want my daughter to be happy and carefree with the love of a doting Dad, I want stability for all five of my children and my home to be a refuge and with that I decided to stay at home with them. I wanted the very best start in their lives for them and I committed to that awhile back. I have made many mistakes in my marriage. many. and many parenting too now that I think of it! and so really don't feel equipped to offer advice although I have been married 25 years! when I reconnected with God through first attempts at running! I was drawn to Him to give over my problems and even recently recognizing and coming to grips with who I am, why? and what? I pray a lot about my marriage and good advice given to me by somebody "don't try and change him, just change yourself"
2009: was a hard working year for our marriage. What I am bad about doing is leaving the kids! logistics and childcare... but one of the best things we did was get away.. this was anniversary #25. much better than a marriage retreat! we just got away and vegged. hard for hubby to leave work and hard for me to leave the family! sometimes the busyness of life gets in the way of the relationship. Puerta Vallarta. we finally made it out the door and went to dinner at 10 p.m.!! after watching the sunset at the beach.
the thing that my husband did for me was got involved in my training. He came to a sprint tri and IMLP. He did some centuries, did situps, stretching with me, and saw me at my worst and my best! He got up and drove the car for illumination while I rode my bike in the dark at 5 a.m. on my RR! He joined a Mt bike team with me and I even got him to the track. and then he started swimming. He has been sick the last 6 weeks with vertigo and has been bummed that his fitness has waned. He loves his work and has provided financially for all of us. In fact I never worry about money or insurance, bills but I know he does. He doesn't run around the track bouncing up and down exclaiming "this track is so bouncy!! my new shoes feel so great!!" like I do with my hands up in the air! and he doesn't find God out on the run like me but prefers intellectual reading, & quiet time in the privacy of his office. But the best thing that has kept us together? is our commitment to God.
Phew!! Our internet connection is really slow today for some reason...makes "forum-ing" really tough! Maybe it's the cold and snow that's causing the issues!
I just spent a total of 2 hours in to and from snowy traffic in the effort to make my hair appointment. Ugh! The snow and rush hour traffic are not a good combo. I often take public transportation, but thought that today I might want to get home a little faster after the haircut. UGH! That's what I get for being that one additional car on the road. I'm exhausted from the effort!! Tomorrow it's back on the train where I can relax and read and not worry about someone hitting my poor little car!
Good to hear you're on this side of your surgery, Mary. No rush to get back to this training stuff. It ain't going anywhere! Rest, heal, recover.
Love the idea of godpuppymother-hood, Kris! Perfect. If only we were closer to some of these little fuzz balls we could be backup dog-walkers...
Marianne - You look so cute on this page!! www.endurancenation.us/store/plan-shop/plan-index.html What a great pic!!
Linda - I am going to make your kale and sweet potato recipe tomorrow or Friday!
Is this recipe on the recipe thread?
Yes I think Linda put the recipe in there.... and that is where the pic went, well they asked me for a pic of me in EN gear and didn't actually know what for!!
but hey that one was authentic, right after New Orleans 70.3 so the sweat is real, the flush is not makeup and the braids made it all day! and that is water dripping out of them cuz it was so hot that day!
well school is in session so far so I gotta scoot!! m
Oh Marianne- that pic of you in the EN kit is adorable!! Thanks for pointing it out Olivia- I would have missed it!
Well, as you all probably know I've had a little set back with my calf. So this morning I went to the YMCA and did a water-running workout. My first thought was "oh joy, here we go again". But I had my iPod and I put on the "EN Inspiration" playlist that I put together last season (and have added to it here and there). The first song was "One Thing" which really helped me put my head in the right place and I was ready to do those 1:30 intervals of hard effort. As I listened to those songs I just got more and more thankful for each of you. We share so much good and bad here- I feel like we are all sisters! Thank you all for being there for me- even when you don't know you are doing it!
Oh- PS, ladies when we get to the EN Dinner at IMoo- you KNOW we have got to put together an awesome playlist for our background music and you also KNOW I'm gonna make you all dance with me when "We Are Family" comes up!!!!
Kris - Obedience classes for the owners is about right! Especially when the pups take so many cues from us. As for the house, I have put up multiple baby gates to define her area!! She also will be crate trained.
The snow is coming. Will see how much it amounts too. It better NOT mess with my afternoon hair appt!!!
Kids are out of school today, but I didn't even think to check the closings before taking off this AM because - well - there was no snow then! So I brought the other kids that we carpool with home to play for a while. My original plan was to hustle on home to get the FTP test done - so far I have read the forums, done laundry, thought about dinner (briefly), made bread (which smells really yummy BTW) and some online banking and I need to go to the grocery store (that should be fun!). The later the day gets the less likely that test is to happen..... as soon as the other kids get picked up.... that is what I am saying now. Esther is having a blast running around in the snow (yes, it is finally arriving) and playing with the kids. I should be taking pics.
well we thought school would be cancelled but nope it wasn't making getting ready sludgy this mornin!! 19 degrees with 15mph winds made my 3 mile run with Rudy chilly and the trail icy so picked running around the industrial park, nothing scenic and wide open spaces meant nice and windy!! but warmed up nice enough but couldn't exactly pick up any speed!! and son #4 has strep just got in from doc appt, so was gone for about 2.5 hours and pulling into driveway when son #3 calls me from school... so have called doc to get more meds. terribly windy here and now up to 22 and heading out to pharmacy to get meds. the dog didn't seem to mind the cold but found a frozen bagel on the ground in parking lot which he thought I would let him keep since he looked so adorable with it.. but nope, made him "give it", he tried to tell me that it was better than the frozen, dead roadkill that he also sniffed at!! he was "rowdy " today.. and didn't want to get his gentle collar on... and I just looked at him and said "I had five kids so nothing new on me buddy" and unlocked the car, got back in it and sat there with leash in hand... he ran off, ran back and I could see his wheels turning in that dog skull of his... he got closer and closer to the car and yes it was freezing cold and I thought I am nutty to be out here in this frigid cold weather by myself waiting on a mutt!! he could see that I was about to start the car up so he decided to obey!! and yep I made him sit too while he tossed his head back and forth and those ears get in teh way. okay sickness calls....
oh yes, "one for the Mom" as I told Joshua you have strep and doc confirmed it with the test! signs of strep as we have had it many x. and actually he told me "Mom, I think I have strep". Sick on Thursday means get to the doc today before the weekend!
1. normally high fever (but not this time!)
2. very sore throat, hard to swallow, feels rough, get flashlight out and the blunt end of the butter knife and look down their throat, "aaah" checking for gross white spots.
3. have them cup their hands and smell their breath = stinky= sign of strep, can also have a rash on body.
4. okay when my kids' appetites go down or they don't wanna go to school and if I use the words "well you will have to take a nap" and they say okay... then the illness has gotten worse and normally a doc visit.
5. the Look = sunken eyes, pale, glassy eyes and just don't look like themselves. When they stop harrassing their siblings and just lay on the couch!
and if teenage boys ?? when they tolerate a hug from mom and/or letting you touch their foreheads to feel the fever...
6. Treatment: I give Motrin to help reduce inflammation & help with pain, and lots of fluids before we get to doc, then when you get to doc, one son is allergic, but a shot of pencillin works the fastest and no extra $insurance to pay for pharmacy so just accept the kid will wail with the shot but so much faster of a recovery!! back at school sooner too so not so much homework. but if not, we got a ZPac today and wanna get that going soon so he won't be contagious.
** anyways so glad that I got my bike testing done yesterday, my swim TT the other day as I will miss swimming today, got in a run with the dog this morning and have groceries in the house!! so out the door! m
@Robin--We could sit with a coffee and talk for hours about how much is wrong with that statement--on every level.
One funny thing...when we got Cali this summer, and my boys at home--ages 20, 18, and 16--stepped up, and were expected to take shifts with the puppy. I mean, c'mon--these are near adults. After a few nights of getting up to let the puppy out everu few hours, my 20 y/o said, slumped over his cereal bowl, exhausted, said "Everyone I know should do this. This is the best deterrent to teenage pregnancy ever." Who knew she'd be my ambassador for that!
I am single also, and sometimes it's hard doing everything. I have 4 cats (2 special needs ones) and one dog and the dog really cuts into your training time, but i am fortunate to have good friends and neighbors and enough money to pay for animal care. The dog is the highest after my mortgage in the money demands; but i love her so. and the cats love her also.
for the man side, at my age (50's) many of my friends are younger and it's soo hard to find a guy who matches you in fitness, and/or is able to tolerate your devotion to your lifestyle and be supportive.
i just keep plugging; but i love my doggie and kitty kids
Oh my god, YES! I don't do doggie day care, but the vet bills...my mom suggested that I ask the office if I could have a reserved parking spot. That, and I believe I'm single- handedly keeping the local froofy pet store in business with the 30-lb bags of specialty hypoallergenic dog food. $56 a bag!!! (They deliver for free though, saving me oodles of time and stress - I do love my froofy pet store owners).
@Marianne, that is a really cute picture! Hope no one else in your family gets the strep.
@Gina, I love that Cascada song!
I just saw a great (short) video of monkeys at the Bronx Zoo trying to eat their favorite blueberry treats out of jello - too cute!
www.youtube.com/watch
I'm new at this link thing - I hope it works.