Archive for November, 2007

Time For Vacation

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November 30, 2007
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It’s 4:15am. We’ve been up since 3:30am and thus far things aren’t going very smoothly, but hopefully that will change. Last night wasn’t a very smooth sleeping night, surprise surprise. I think David and I would have done fine by ourselves but the dogs were pacing and wanting in and out of the room. Something tells me they know something’s up.

Then when I got downstairs the first thing I noticed was that the ziploc bag I had Viking’s glucosamine chews in were on missing. Great, I figured the cats probably knocked them down and then Viking ate them all. It wouldn’t make him sick per se but probably some diarrhea. Not a good thing since he’s going to the ‘rents today. I found the bag with a hole. For the most part the chews were still present, just crushed up with some teeth marks.

Then, the bigger problem we found. I ran the dishwasher before going to bed last night. Well, the dang thing decided to leak. And I’m talking all over the kitchen floor. The rugs all soaking wet. At this point we’ve cleaned up the mess and will deal with the possibility of a broken dishwasher when we come back. Something tells me it really isn’t broken. We started to run it last night then figured we both had to take showers and wanted hot water, so we stopped it and then started it again over an hour later. I’m wondering with the suds and water sitting in there if that caused an issue. Dunno. We shall see, just not now.

It’s about that time. Mom will be here in about 10 minutes then we’ll be heading to Cleveland for our 12 hour plane trip (4hrs 1st leg, 7hrs the next). We will have Internet access at the hotel so I may surprise ya’ll and make a post or two while we’re there. God grant us traveling mercies. Rock on! Aloha Hawaii!!!

1 More Sleep

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November 29, 2007
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The alarm went off this morning and I think it’s the fastest I’ve gotten up in a longtime. My head popped up ready and raring to go. I realized it’s the last day of work before vacation. I’ve waited for this day for an entire year. I really don’t know if I’ll get any sleep tonight. And considering we’ll be getting up around 3:45am it’s not like we’d be sleeping well, anyway you look at it. We’ve got a 12 hour trip, hopefully I’ll be able to sleep. I’m not one for sleeping in moving objects, especially an airplane. It’s just uncomfortable. If you tilt your head back you tend to have the open mouth, sore neck situation. If I use the table and lean over I feel I can’t breathe and my arms fall asleep (I never slept in school, on a desk, why would it be any different now. So the position I usually end up in is leaning forward with my head to my knees and the top of my head touching the seat in front of me. I’m sure I look real cute. Everyone says to take a sleeping aid even if it’s Tylenol PM. The thing is I’d hate to take it and feel so very exhausted but unable to sleep. That’d make a cranky Heidi let me tell you. We shall see. I’m also not one for wanting to use the lavatory while on a plane. I swear everytime I do we hit turbulence. Yeah, that’s fun. Women have a hard enough time in public restrooms, try it on a plane. I’ll tell you this…the whole “squat over the toilet instead of actually sitting on the toilet” technique is thrown out the window. And there’s always a line for the lavatory even though they say not to line up in the aisles. So my question is, if I have to go do I follow the rules, waiting, hoping that at some point there’s not a line? And race to it when someone comes out in hopes that I beat someone to it? Or just break the rules and stand in the line as everyone on the plane watches you? Ah, the joys of flying. I shouldn’t be complaining. At least we don’t have to drive or take a boat.

I was also explaining to a coworker how I see tomorrow in steps/goals. Once I’m on the road one layer of anxiety is taken away, then once we check-in, one more layer, get through the check points, another layer, and so on. The whole airport process can be exhausting. I’ve flown enough that I should be a pro at it, but considering all the changes that have occurred since 9/11 it makes it more of a challenge. You never know what to expect since laws and restrictions are constantly changing. And going through the checkpoints. Geesh. Do you ever feel like a cattle going to slaughter? You wait forever only to get to the check point and be pushed through faster than you can think. I always forget to put something on the conveyor belt and get yelled at, whether it’s all my paperwork or my hoodie sweatshirt. I know they’re just doing their job but I always feel like crap after going through them. Who likes to be yelled at first thing in the morning? Not I. Once again, the joys of flying and what we get to look forward to tomorrow. But the outcome will definitely be worth it.

I hear Hawaii calling our name. We’re coming. We’re coming.

Counting Down

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November 27, 2007
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We’re one more day closer. Yes. I’m fully packed to the point of last minute things. And I have my to-do list in full swing. Everything down to the last day. I can’t wait. We’re both so ready. When we went out for our run this morning David said, “I don’t think I’m going to be able to have a good night’s sleep until we’re on vacation.” Well, let’s hope we get some sleep on vacation.

I’ve gone back through 2 of the 3 Hawaii books, making notes. I’m not 100% comfortable yet. It’s more the whole idea of getting around and what to do when. I’m sure that will come with time and being there. Unlike Disney, we’ve never been to Hawaii so we’re not sure what to expect. And although tourbooks have “how to do Disney in 3 days”, etc. it’s pretty much a no brainer when you go there. You get up and go. Don’t have to worry about transportation with the Magical Express and all the shuttle busses. Of course I still did some planning when we went to Florida like when the best days for what parks were and things like that. Basically for this trip I’ve printed out tons of maps and directions, made notes in books, then have basic notes as to what we would possibly like to do when we arrive. That’s it. Really nothing special. We haven’t planned any tours or anything. That’s more because of a money thing, but also, you have to book so far in advance and I just want to get there first and check things out. I’d hate to be tied down and not be able to do what we want to do. And if we get there and can’t get on a tour that we’d like to be on, so be it. I’m sure there’s plenty of other things to fill our time.

I’m already dreading leaving the “kids.” I know they’re just pets to most people but they are part of our family and for us it’s like leaving a kid behind. I know they’ll be fine and they could hardly care that we’re gone, but it’s still so hard to leave them. It’s just getting through that first night or two and then I get better. They’ll have a heck of a time with Nana and PawPaw though. Viking and Lily will definitely keep them on their toes.

I believe I’ve finally conquered the problem of sending my school checklists in. I was having problems last week with sending them to my professor. Well, come to find out it wasn’t just a problem with 1 class, but 2. I still don’t think it was a attachment size issue but I ended up getting my professors’ personal email addresses and sent them that way. After hours of attempting to send emails with attachments, last week and last night, I have not received any back from all the ones I sent last night. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. I just want it to be complete, that way it’s one less this to worry about this week.

Well, it’s off to work I go. Only 3 more working days. Yes.

Turkey Dash Follow-Up

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November 22, 2007
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Aloha, Heidi
Originally uploaded by kyleroth.

Ready For Hawaii!

As stated in a previous post, each race brings a new experience along with memories. The Turkey Dash was definitely an experience. The morning started out being windy with a steady mist. Okay, more like droplets than a mist. It was cold. I think Erika, David, and I were all thinking, “Why the heck did we sign up for this?!”

The route was basically in the form of a figure 8. The first quarter I felt like my face was going to freeze off. I kept thinking to myself, “Man! My face hasn’t been this cold in awhile. Am I going to be able to go the entire route being this cold?” But then I hit mile one and looked at my time…10:00. “Hmmm, good job Heidi. You’re doing better than you thought you would and better than you’ve been training too.” That gave me inspiration to keep going and keep up the pace that I had set.

As I entered the second half trees must have been blocking the wind, and at that point I felt warm. Almost too warm. Time to unzip the outerwear. At mile 2 I was still quite pleased with my pace and found myself running neck and neck with an unknown female. There was no talking but it was nice to have “company” that continued to drive me. I’m not going to lie. The entire time I was thinking, “Yep, we’ll run together for now, but I’m going to kick your butt at the end!” That’s the competitor in me I guess.

We turned what I thought to be the final corner and I started to kick it out. For some reason I didn’t see the end of the race though. Finally we had someone hollering at us, “Just under the bridge then you’re finished!” “Under the bridge? What bridge?” Then a quick descent came upon us. Not too safe considering it had been a mixture of rain/sleet the entire morning. I did fine then started up the hill that followed the underpass. That’s when I saw KD. As usual, I flashed my hang loose sign and continued on. All the while I’m thinking to myself, “Where the heck is the finish?” I wasn’t so much tired but was confused as to where I was going. Ah ha! There it was in the distance . I kicked up my already kicked up pace and finished strong with David and Erika waiting for me at the finish.

According to my Garmin I kept up my “good” pace and was quite proud of my finish time, which was 10 seconds faster than my previous best 5K time. Recently my times have been much slower which I attribute to more clothes and the change in elements, so it was a pleasant surprise to have a better time and a much better average pace. Now I can say that I participated in a Turkey Dash/Trot. I think I’d like to do it again next year and hope that we don’t have the same elements. It made it much easier to swallow all the food we ate today knowing I had already burned some of it off. And as always we were in great company with Erika and KD. We definitely have to get up there and visit them. Take a night out. It’d be fun.

The rest of the day was truly an enjoyable Thanksgiving. It was relaxing and cozy. Being with family and not being too hectic. Eating just the right amount of food and enjoying it. And then finishing up the day with a glass of sparkling juice and “The Holiday” with David. Couldn’t ask for a better day. One more reason to be thankful.

I’m not sure what our plans are tomorrow. I’d like to go shopping but truly we have nothing to buy so I ask myself, “Why would I be so insane to fight the crowds for nothing?” It’s fun I guess. Once again, the competitor in me. We shall see. I’ll tell you this though…I sure the heck am not going to be up at 4am. Hey, I got the day off, I’m going to try to get some sleep.

Oh yeah, and by the way I did kick butt and beat the unknown female that was running next to me during the Turkey Dash. Rock on!

Running Camaraderie

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November 18, 2007
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Yesterday was a ton of fun. I’m so glad that I signed up for the Pigskin Classic 5K with Erika. We all had perfect timing arriving in Cleveland and had no problem finding each other. The morning was quite chilly. Chilly enough to make our teeth chatter. Brrrr….Even though it was chilly we all enjoyed the pre-race atmosphere at the Tailgate along with Erika and KD’s friends, Jen and Ian. After waiting around for a bit the race finally started 15 minutes late due to organization problems.

When the race started Jen and Erika did their thing while I stayed back and did my own thing. Upon starting out I had the numb foot feeling. Not to the point of hurting, but the kind that when your feet strike your feet feel tiny. Know what I’m sayin’? I didn’t know what to expect with the race course. I had looked at the map, but considering I’m not all that familiar with Cleveland, it didn’t help much. However, I was hoping that it wasn’t going to be as hilly as OROC. For the most part OROC was uphill the first half, then downhill the second half. Boy, was I in for a surprise! We rounded the first corner and started heading downhill. You know what that means, if you’re going downhill, you know that you’re going to have to go back up that hill to get back to where you started. Basically this race was the opposite of OROC. Downhill the first half, and uphill the second half. Man.

So the first 1/4 was downhill to the Browns Stadium, it wound around the stadium, headed back uphill, then in front of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, downhill and to the airport. It was a down and back course, meaning you basically turn right around and go the opposite direction. Considering that, Jen and Erika passed me on their way back. I gave them a quick wave as they hollered “Heidi Henry!” at me. I felt great at that point. It’s always an awesome feeling to hear your name called out in encouragement. That was when I started focusing on the second half. I was dreading that final hill, knowing it was going to kick my butt. However, the wind wasn’t too bad considering we were right on the water, so I just kept telling myself, “It will be ok.” That’s when a second surprise came. Upon turning the corner of the Browns Stadium to head up the final hill, I hit a wall of wind. Gosh. That’s when the hardcore self-talking had to kick in. Once again, just like OROC, I found myself near a young boy. He was trying his hardest to go up that hill. He just gave up and started walking. When I caught up to him I told him, “Come on man. You’re almost there. You can do it.” He picked up his pace and kicked it out. Awesome. It’s amazing how when you encourage someone else, it inspires you to keep going too.

The last quarter of the hill I kicked into overdrive. I focused in on my goal of passing “that” person ahead of me. When I met that goal, I focused in again on the next person, then the next person. I rounded the corner, heard my name being yelled, flashed my quick “hang loose” sign, and finished it out strong. I felt good.

Every race thus far has been different in a multitude of ways. This race brought it’s own new experiences and fun with it. I must say, races are even more fun when you know other people who are running. Just in racing with new people, I now understand the camaraderie that goes along with the racing world. The pre-race and post-race fun, just enjoying each other’s company. It was a blast. The coolest thing is that it’s a chill type of atmosphere.

After the race, we tailgated a bit more then headed into the bar to hang out. Although there were a ton of people there was enough room for everyone, and for the most part it was a positive atmosphere. I’ve never been all that close with KD so it’s great to get to spend some time with him and Erika, and get to know them better. And getting to know their friends/coworkers is even better. I look forward to many more experiences. Thanks to KD, Erika, Jen, Ian, and Brian for including me in on the fun. And by the way, the shirts are really cool. The coolest race shirt to date, for me.

After all the fun I drove home to find a happy husband, since OSU won. Go Buckeyes! I took a quick shower then we headed to Fridays with Sita and Alpa. After arriving home I should’ve taken it easy but we decided to start our Christmas decorating. Hey, why not take advantage of the time? We turned on the Christmas music and away we went. By the time 10pm came around I was about to fall over from being tired.

My legs hurt some yesterday but boy did they hurt today. I couldn’t believe how sore they were when I woke up. I decided to take the day off of running while David headed out for a short route (making me feel guilty). For the first time he took the Garmin to measure his speed. Goodness gracious….as I thought, that boy can move! The Garmin measured him at an average pace of 7:50/mile. Let’s put this into perspective….my average is 10-10:15/mile on a good day. Now I know I’m slow, but he’s still fast. And I would consider that a bad day for him since he was struggling with the cold and his asthma today. Ah well. I can’t be jealous as it took him some time in the Marine Corps to get to where he is and he’s worked VERY hard at it. I’m proud.

The rest of the day was quite uneventful. I spent some time bumming around with Sita, but we had to cut it short with my legs killing me. I can only guess the aching is coming from the lack of adequate stretching, cold weather, the uphill incline, and the amount of standing we did yesterday. If I feel like this after a 5K what am I going to feel like after my someday marathon? I don’t even want to imagine. It’s okay, I’ll get there. That’s why I do what I do. According to the Marine Corps, pain is weakness leaving the body, right? Thankfully I have a mother-in-law who’s a massotherapist in training and I get to be the guinea pig. Yes! And better yet, they’re learning athletic massage right now. Ooh, after she worked on me, I feel much better.

I think that’s about all for now. Today is a short week for work. Only Monday and Tuesday. Sweet. My exams should be posted by tomorrow, so I’ll be able to get those out of the way at some point this week too. Then Thursday, Turkey Day! David and I will be running the Turkey Dash 5K with Erika, then spending some time with family. Hope you had a wonderful weekend and you’re looking forward to the upcoming holiday.

Pigskin Classic 5K

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November 7, 2007
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After waivering back and forth I’ve decided to join Erika for the Pigskin Classic 5K. David won’t be participating due to not wanting to miss any part of the game, but I thought it’d be fun. I’m not looking forward to Cleveland’s hills but that’s okay. That what makes it fun. Now I gotta find something to wear to support the Buckeyes. Of course I have TONS of OSU stuff but I’ll have to make sure I have something to wear while running. Yes it’s true, cotton kills. This should be fun!

55 Miles

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November 2, 2007
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I just got done calculating our mileage for the month of October. It’s our highest month to date at 55 miles total. Pretty cool. I hope our trend continues on as the months go by. Brrrr, it was 38 degrees for our run this morning. I love this new shirt I got from Target. It’s a wicking material that has a half zipper and a higher neck. That’s not even the cool part though. It’s long sleeved and at the end are these cuffs. Well, if you pull them down over your hands they make mittens. It’s awesome and so creative. Kind of reminds me of when little kids have their gloves or mittens attached to their winter coats with clips. One less thing to worry about losing while you’re running. We usually don’t run on Fridays but on Wednesday night/Thursday night our sleeping night was full of interruptions. From Viking wanting let in and out of the bedroom to waking up with a Lily vomiting in the bed (yep, fresh clean sheets that were just changed the day before) I just wanted 45 more minutes of sleep. Actually there were even more problems during the night but it’s just too much to go into on the blog. So Thursday ended up being a day off, which led to us running today. It was tough to get up. All I wanted to do was stay in the warm bed and sleep in knowing that I don’t go in until noon today, but we got up and got our butts moving. Which leads me to where I am now. Sitting, writing. I plan to head upstairs to do some cleaning before heading into work after I’m done here.

I believe David is all set and ready to go to Minnesota. It’s fun to see him excited. However, I must say I’m quite jealous at all the planning he’s putting into this weekend trip. I’m not mad by any means, however do you think he does any planning for any other trip we’ve been on? Heck no. A week in Disney…did he crack a book or look things up on the internet? Nah. How about Hawaii coming up. Does he seem interested and want to plan things? Nope. What’s the deal? I guess it’s a man thing. He’s going to see his beloved Vikings and it has to be perfect. As for our trips together he knows that I’ll have everything figured out along with directions printed and ready to go that he doesn’t have to worry about it. But I will say it’d be nice if he’d at least show a small hint of interest in planning our trips, even if we don’t have any set plans. I’d just like to have some of his input as to what he wants to do and have him know what’s available. Ah well.

As for me this weekend, I have to work tomorrow morning then I’m planning on going up to Great Northern with mom and sita. We’re going up to a scrub store then probably will do some shopping here or there. At night we’ll probably just chill and watch or go to a movie.

Okay, time to get moving on the cleaning. Hope everyone has a Fantastic Friday!

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