Outside that is! Yesterday was a gorgeous spring day with beautiful blue skys. It was time to bring training to the outdoor arena. It was the perfect day. I was able to wear my new running jacket that I got for Christmas and finally to break in the running pants I bought back in November for the ill-fated bridge run. So happy I finally got a chance to use them! The training yesterday, a 40 minute bike ride and a 20 minute run. Today I met my tri buddy at the pool and we swam 300 yards and I did manage to squeeze in a short run. That concluded the first week of tri training.
It is officially 11 weeks to my first tri of the season. I am in much better shape than I was last year at this time, but I still have so far to go. Saturday is our first road race of the season, a 5K, and I am very excited! We will be racing with some of my favorite ladies and then heading to breakfast at my favorite diner. I just can't wait!
Well, I was there, about an hour ago; and I will be there, at least three times a week, for the next 12 weeks. (Sigh)
I have been hopelessly trying to get on some kind of a schedule since school started in September. I have yet to accomplish that minor task and now training has started. It feels too soon.
I need to find a happy balance between school, training, family and friends. I need to make time for sewing and scrapping. I need a bit of magic. Where is Jeannie when you need her?
This is me, at the gym, quite unhappily I might add. It's not that I don't like going to the gym, quite the contrary, I love going to the gym. But, this week, with all of my school work and such, I would really rather spend my "free" time sewing or engaged in some other creative pursuit. I have my first Tri on May 26th, my first 5K on March 16th, and my first 5 miler on April 28th, there's no way out. I must train or run the risk of hurting myself. So, I go to the gym. Sometimes I even smile about it. All the while, I am dreaming of hours of uninterupted sewing time...
Back on schedule - thank goodness. I do not like getting behind on Project Life. It seems more manageable to catch up with other projects, but Project Life is tough to catch up on just because I am old and have no memory. But, here I am, right where I'm supposed to be!Week 9 was a pretty simple week, as weeks tend to go around here. I did no training, still trying to feel better from my bout with the flu. Mark found a spot in the garage for our Christmas trees so we finally have our livingroom back. So happy about that!
Monday I took a picture of my desk at work, really piled up. I am seriously behind in grading and everything. My tables and desk absolutely look like I am behind! Tuesday morning the car was covered in frost. Mark made me a little love note in the windshield!Wednesday I ventured into Philly after work for a date with Jason. Thrilled to finally spend a bit of time together. I was also able to go to Athleta to finally exchange a couple of Christmas gifts. Slowly but surely I will take care of everything!
Thursday was a low key sort of day, home all night. I decided to avoid the gym for the entire week. Tri training starts this week so I figured I'd be fit enough, soon enough! Friday we ran several errands after work and after dinner. It felt good to take care of all of that without losing any of our Saturday.
Saturday we traveled over to Bartram's Garden for a botanical drawing class at 10. We are usually not out of bed before 10 on Saturday. but, by 9:15 I had registered for a triathlon, a 5K and USA Triathlon. I was feeling good and accomplished!
We had a great time at the class on Saturday. We also spent some time out in the cold taking photos of the buildings and gardens before we got too chilled to snap the cameras. Then were were off to The Pour House for lunch. Mark had been interested in trying The Pour House for quite some time and this was the perfect opportunity. All in all it was a pretty low key week. We needed the opportunity to just relax and get healthy!
I will be linking up over at The Mom Creative where Jessica is playing catch-up in a much more creative way than I would ever attempt. I would like to play more with products and such, I just feel a bit overwhelmed with everything on my plate right at the moment.
I have also started following Cathy Zielske again. I love her clean, no nonsense style.
Well, I am off to the gym. Tri training is pushing me out the door on this chilly evening. I hear the pool calling! Thanks for stopping by, have a magical evening!
As always, a work in progress. Loved the opportunity to spend time photographing nature coming to life in the spring. Isn't it magical? Sure hope these poor blooms survive the snow this week!
Week 8 seems so very long ago. The truth is, it was. I think I am going to refer to it as the lost week. For most of the week I had the flu. I didn't realize it at first, but after 6 days of being sick and not being able to eat, that is what I am calling it!Week 8 started off well enough. We had plans to go to a show at the Pitman Broadway Theater, A Song in My Heart, with Bunkey and Eddy. I was up relatively early and took care of my Sunday chores before we had to leave at about 1:15. It was during the drive over to Pitman that I began to feel, not so good. But we persevered and ended up at Carolina Blue, which we love, for an early dinner. It was frigidly cold and by the time we got home, I was ready for bed.
Monday I went to work only to have the nurse call Mark to come and pick me up around 10:30. Tuesday, most of my day was spent in bed. Tuesday evening, after his writer's meeting, poor Mark got sick. I slept through most of it. I woke up around 6:30 to his suffering through, what I think, was food poisoning. I went off to work and he stayed in bed all day. Wednesday evening we just hung out, laying around the family room watching Lost in Austen, good movie. Thursday I ventured off to work. Mark was feeling better and made plans to go to a writer's meeting. Thursday I rushed home from work and climbed right into bed where I stayed for two more days. Finally feeling a bit better, Saturday evening we visited with Naya and Howard for her winter holiday celebration. The place was decorated for Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day and the Chinese New Year. To round out the holidays, we donned St. Patricks' Day hats. It was a fun evening and although I did not feel up to eating, we had a great time and spent a good part of the evening laughing. We needed that! For a week lost to the flu, I did manage a few photographs. One of my best discoveries this week, my bread machine. Even if I do not feel well, the bread machine can make a delicious loaf of bread with very little help from me. That's a good thing.Even though I am very late, I will still link up over at The Mom Creative. If you notice, I am keeping Project Life very simple. I have been printing photos of my children that I have been stealing from their Facebook pages, but I have not figured out the best way to add them in, especially when I have had a full week. Well, it is still a work in progress, and I am still thrilled with the way it holds me accountable for recording our life's story. Afterall, our story is lived out in the everyday and I do not want to lose that!
and all that. Actually, I have been a bit busy. Wednesday was dinner in Philly with Jason. What fun we had! I have no photos of Jay and I from that evening, I have become a reformed photographer. Since it was the first time I had seen my number one son since Christmas, I just spent the time enjoying his company and never once took out the camera.
Well, that's a lie. I did take the camera out. I did take a couple of photos. Not one photo of us however and that was an oversight! I was bumming about it until I changed my story. Which, I might add, is working well for me!Dinner on Wednesday was at Pub & Kitchen. I just love their food and I had no trouble eating vegan. What a treat! The roasted beet salad was the best!
I just love that they have no outside sign. Inside the "pub" has a beautiful bar and the dining room is just simple, white brick walls, warm wood tables, very comfortable. I definitely recommend a stop there if you are in Center City.After dinner, we meandered our way through Rittenhouse Square, on our way to the Patco Station. As we walked past the Curtis we noticed a sign, "Graduation Recital 8PM". Without thinking twice we climbed the stairs and entered Field Recital Hall. So happy we stopped. A wonderful graduation recital by a very talented violinist. The perfect ending to the perfect date night with Jason, even if I don't have a photo of us!
