Things I Saw Today That Scared Me

1) A woman with Kate Gosselin's hairstyle (not the new one). On purpose.

2) A woman who was nursing her baby in a restaurant (not scary) had normal looking boobs at first, but when she took one out to nurse the baby, it was like the baby was sucking at her belly button! It was like one was where it was supposed to be, and the other was down around her waist. It was so weird. And the scary part- I'm afraid this will happen to me! I'm not going to post a picture. I tried to find one, but any search with the term "breast" or "boob" for a blog-appropriate pic just isn't useful.

I HATE to cook. And oh yeah, is training for a half marathon overambitious

So I started out the day talking with my co worker who was recently inspired to run a marathon. I too have always harbored dreams of running a marathon. Some day. But maybe that day is soon? I have to say I am getting caught up in the excitement. But I can't fathom training for a marathon on a treadmill, so I think training for a half is a better idea. The race we're thinking of is in May. By then, I could do the long runs on the weekend outside while Bil has Raviv, so maybe I would go for a fall marathon?


This all sounds great in theory, but tonight I got on the treadmill and again, it sucks. There is no way around it. Maybe it will be better when I can run without feeling like I have lead for legs, but I'm not sure I can spend the next 12 weeks logging so many miles on that thing. So for now, while training involves VERY low mileage, I might as well keep going.


So after my long run (long time, not long distance), which I got a late start on as I decided to lube and adjust the belt that has been skewing left (took 30 minutes, and as soon as I got on it went back) I had to cook. Now, I rarely cook. I don't mind making up simple recipes with fresh, healthy food. I like the flavor of *real* food. Recently I made up a really good kale, tofu and miso paste recipe we both like. But Bil loves to cook and he loves to have people over. So given that we are having 10 for dinner tomorrow night, and he has a meeting, he asked me to make the soup. Oh yeah, and if I didn't mind could I make some cookies? He claimed it would
"relax me" and I would have fun doing it. Does this man not know me? I hate the time it takes, the mess, and the waste of my precious time I could be doing something I enjoy.


The soup is a really delicious mushroom barley soup that takes 2.5 hours to prepare. Towards the end we need to make a roux (butter and flour) but we are having chicken for dinner so I need to use margarine. I have such a visceral hatred of margarine. It goes against all I stand for. I'm not sure I am even going to eat the soup. Anyway, the soup is simmering away and it was time to make cookies.


I am a disaster following recipes. I much prefer to make stuff up. Somehow I always mess up a recipe, usually because I'm too impatient. But, chocolate chip cookies it is. So tonight, as I'm trying to soften our crusty brown sugar in the microwave, running eggs under warm water to get them "room temperature" and unwrapping sticks of margarine *shudder* I am getting more and more resentful. Anyway, just as I mix all the ingredients I look at the cookbook and realize I forgot to add the orange Zest. So I find the zester, scrape the rind and think to myself "I didn't realize orange zest is in chocolate chip cookies. Must be because this recipe is being made from scratch?" but as I go look at the recipe, I realize the page has turned and I've started to make a recipe for chocolate orange pecan cookies. Luckily the only real difference was I needed 2 sticks of butter for these cookies, but I'd only put in 1 1/4 sticks (though I thawed two sticks!). I couldn't bear the thought of touching more margarine, so I decided that two cap-fulls of canola oil had to be the same thing (can you see where I get myself into trouble?)


Anyway, I decided that it would be tastier to bake the cookies fresh tomorrow night so the dough is sitting in the fridge, the kitchen is semi clean, and I've still found some time to veg out. The one good thing is that I probably won't eat these cookies given that they are made with margarine and pareve chocolate. I mean really, what's the point?

The home gym or a coat rack?

Here is a picture of my home gym- note the awesome bookcase provided by my friend Susan on which I can set my computer (perfect fit and perfect height) so I can watch episodes of the Office. I put the baby monitor on the shelf below. The treadmill is loud, and with the headphones for my "TV" I wouldn't hear Raviv. The monitor is cool because if noise is detected it lights up red. This way I can just keep an eye out for Raviv.

My biggest challenge is not letting it become the proverbial (okay, literal) clothes rack. Last week I used it twice, but this week I had to travel to Albuquerque for work. I was very excited because the hotel website led me to beleive there would be a great gym and a pool so I packed sneakers, gym clothes, my baithing suit, googles and a swim cap. Unfortuantely, between stepping on the airport at 8 am Sunday morning and stepping off when I returned at 11pm Tuesday night I did nothing but sit. Not by choice mind you. This was one of those meetings where I worked the ENTIRE TIME other than sleeping. (Which by the way, was awesome since I didn't have one ear open for a child in distress!). Other than a group photo I literally did not leave the hotel. I didn't even have dinner on Monday night I was so tired. The conference room didn't even have windows. It was a good meeting, but sucked the life out of me.

Which brings me to tonight where I continue my marathon sitting experience nestled on the couch in my ass-shaped cushion dent watching crappy tv. I cannot bring myself to exercise tonight. I won't even watch my recorded episode(s) of The Biggest Loser since I know I'll feel guilty. If a 500 lb person can work out, shouldn't I be able to at least walk or jog for 20 minutes? Or even engage in some decluttering like Melisa?






In other news, I was expecting Raviv to be very clingy and cuddly today since I was gone for so long (well, it felt that way to me) but apparently he couldn't care less that I was back. Sure he was excited for fresh food but other than that he's been off doing his own thing. Though I've been away from him ebefore, this trip was really hard.






OK, now that I've realized how lame I'm being sitting here writing a boring blog post, I'm going to do something productive before I go to bed (early) tonight. Stay tuned to find out what it is I decide to do...

Blogging take two

My good friend started blogging again this week and has given me a renewed interest in reviving my own blog. Taking a few minutes of the day to reflect on my goals is something I enjoy doing. Melisa has very clear goals for the next twelve months which I find inspiring, but only as long as I sit at my computer reading her blog while I pump so Raviv can have food at daycare. Somehow when I get home I have forgotten all about my own goal to de-clutter and clean.

With the start of the new year and new decade I find people all around me making goals and resolutions for how things will be different this time around. This year, things feel different for me. I am now sleeping through the night, Raviv is getting more independent, and Bil has also decided to make some changes. Given these shifts in my life, I've decided to recommit to running and exercising. Again.

So far so good- I have run the last two nights in my home gym (picture forthcoming). Though I only did two miles each time, it was 30 minutes (with warm up/cool down) of torture. It hurt. It was boring. It was hot. But, those 30 minutes were a small price to how much better I have felt during the other 1,410 minutes of the day. So for roughly 2% of my 24 hours allotted daily, I am uncomfortable but feel good for the other 98% of the time. Seems like a good deal to me!

You will regret not running, but will rarely regret going for a run

This is what I said to myself to get out the door tonight. Bil, Raviv and I went on vacation with our dear friend Dr. M. and my cousin M. (I refer to a lot of M's in this blog). Though we had a very nice time on the Jersey shore (free lodging and a warm ocean!) Raviv was not so easy. On Tuesday night he woke up at 11:30, 1:30. 3:30, 4:30 and then at 5:30 for the day. I think he might be teething, but no sign of a tooth yet. Plus, as soon as we got home yesterday, he was back to his cheery self. I think he doesn't like to travel.



Anyway, as usual, when the four (adults) get together, we eat. A lot. We've made a habit of eating our way through Boston, New York, and now Northampton and New Jersey (french toast souffle anyone?). The irony is that Bil and I are both trying to make this "the summer of slim," Dr. M is a marathoner and cousin M has a hard core yoga practice (the kind where you basically contort your body and balance on one ear. The pic below isn't her, but I bet she could do that)

Anyway, after eating like crazy, and sitting around I got home and felt I should get back on the ball. I did run once on vacation. I ran along the boardwalk in Asbury Park. It was really great being by the ocean. On the way home, however I got totally lost and saw the less "tourist friendly" side of Asbury Park. I had my iTouch, so I tried to email Bil ("help, I'm lost!") but he didn't get it. Eventually I found a fire station and they helped me. I didn't know the address, but I knew I was near some vegan restaurant with a "tree" in the name. I also got the WORST chafe ever. Even worse than the first time. I think the sweat from the 90 degree day and the ocean air made my legs extra sensitive.

Luckily I got home almost safe and sound (I did walk into a sign and got such a HUGE bruise/cut on my arm that Dr. M made me promise to get a tetanus shot and I may have gotten poison ivy- we'll know soon enough), but Raviv was not happy his meal was late. Or salty.

So tonight I got home from an unexpected day of work (technically, I'm still on vacation) and decided to binge eat on cereal. I know it is because I was so tired. But after eating, and spending some great time with Raviv (this was one of those nights where I just love him so much I can't stand it) I decided to run.

I think there were three reasons why I had such a great run:

1) Raviv doesn't eat when he is with Bil. So instead of his normal 18 oz of milk he only had about 4 all day. He sucked me dry tonight, so I had a lot less discomfort in that area.

2) The weather was warm enough, but not hot

3) I have a great play list for running. Below is what I listened to while running. (Please note that I do not listen to this type of music other than when running. Ok, maybe in the afternoon on a slow day, but other than that it is KEXP, NPR, or Pandora. The playlist below is 41 minutes, the perfect amount of time:

1. Dead and Gone- T.I feat. Justin Timberlake


2. Electric Feel- MGMT


3. Just Dance- Lady GaGa


4. If U Seek Amy- Britney Spears


5. That's not my name- the Ting Tings


6. Ain't No Sunshine- The Neville Brothers


7. Let it Rock- Kevin Rudolf


8. I gotta feeling- Black Eyed Peas


9. Poker Face-Lady GaGa


10. Right Round- Flo Rida

Not related to this post, cousin M is a special ed teacher and an early intervention specialist. She and I were talking about Autism and I found this article that is interesting...

What do you listen to when you run?

How I got swimmer's ear and almost drowned.

Hot yoga is sweaty. I know you're thinking "duh, isn't that the point" but I have to tell you, it really is. Last night was my second try and I wasn't so impressed. During triangle pose water sweat kept dripping ever deeper into my ear canal. I swear I need those vinegar and alcohol drops I had after swim lessons at camp. Then, during extended down-dogs, so much sweat dripped into my nose I swore I was going to drown. The breath, called oceanic breathing is aptly named. I have included two diagrams for those of you who are not familiar with yoga. You can see how running streams of sweat can be problematic.

I have always resisted trying hot yoga, because it sounded awful. Why would you intentionally put yourself in a room heated to 100 degrees and exercise? I anticipated anxiety and a heart attack.

Saturday night we went out to dinner and a friend, whose doctor told him he needed to exercise or he would die told me he was going to go to hot yoga. On Sunday morning, I woke up, ate a huge breakfast and sat around while Bil went to the gym. When he came home, he told me it was my turn. Yoga has always been a way to "work out" when I've been too lazy to do anything else, so I decided I'd go with my near-dead friend. The studio offers a all-you-can-pose first week deal of $20 for unlimited classes. I opted to pay the $14 for one class, sure I would never do it again.

When we walked into the room, I was surprised that I could actually breath. Later, I learned that we were doing the fake hot yoga- only 97 degrees, not 120. I enjoyed the class, which was a surprise because in addition to my hot-yoga aversion, I hate to exercise in the morning. But rather than feeling sick all day, as I usually would with a pre-noon workout, I felt really good. Best of all, my joints felt better (they had been bothering me for two weeks). I also LOVE to sweat, as long as it is confined to appropriate sweat-based activities like running or hanging out in a sauna.

After my great run on Monday, and a residual good mood from Sunday, I decided I would go back to yoga on Tuesday night. I had a very buzzy day. You know the kind- you are so busy, that you have a buzz to your body like you've just consumed a gallon of coffee. Except I avoid caffeine like the plague. You think so hard you sweat. I figured having a calm, peaceful workout (and in the evening no less!) would be ideal.

Not so much. For some reason I just couldn't focus. My mind wandered, my form was awful (knock-knees = bad yoga form) and I felt dizzy and nauseous the whole time. Plus there was the whole swimmer's ear and drowning hazards. To be fair, I did learn two new stretches that felt AMAZING after a long run.

I did feel better as I went to bed, but I didn't sleep very well. Plus, my skin is breaking out. Not sure if that is because of the "detoxing" effects promised or the fact that I had my sweaty face pressed on a rented yoga mat that smelled like feet.

My friend who got me into this hasn't gone yet for his second class. He isn't making very good use of his unlimited classes for this first week. He was too sore to go with me yesterday. Rumor has it he's going tomorrow, so we'll see how he fares. I think I need to follow my friend C's dating rule: Give everyone at least three dates before making a decision. So I'll do this hot yoga one more time before deciding yay or nay.

PS- Two of my most important exercise rules are repeatedly violated in this class:

1) Spandex should never come in a size larger than small.

2) The amount clothing men must wear is directly proportional to the amount of body hair you have. This is especially critical when considering running shorts and topless yoga.

Things I thought about while running

• how happy I was to be outside and to be alone
• I was happy I added new music to my mix
• my arms are sore from hot yoga yesterday
• I really liked hot yoga, but that I was glad I did easy hot yoga (97 degrees) instead of hard core hot yoga (120 degrees)
• I wished I had eaten something before I left
• what I was going to eat when I got home (a hard boiled egg, cream of wheat, and some veggies)
• my joints are starting to feel better. I probably don't have Lyme disease
• I should read my blog posts before hitting "publish" as sometimes my thoughts get away from me and I forget to say what I really wanted to
• this is a bad habit I have in general, and that my dad always pushed me to proofread
• I probably won't proof this post either
• I was glad to go on a long run (relatively)
• I am glad I am able to go on a long run both by having the time and the physical stamina
• it was such a nice surprise to turn onto the bikepath on my way back and realize I had been slowly going uphill, because it meant I could finish my run on a downgrade!
• It isn't fun to get to work on a Monday morning and be the one to find out that a diet coke exploded in the fridge
• I am glad I am a vegetarian
• I didn't eat out at all today (other than an iced tea) and that it felt good
• I like facebook
• I really like my job and feel like I'm getting back in the swing of things, and that I have a very full plate right now, but in an okay way
• I'm looking forward to the Ms getting back so we can re commit to the FLC
• I have a bit less jig, and it is easier to run with less jig
• I never thought I'd be a two-bra runner
• I'm really happy for my two cross-country buddies that got married this past weekend (not to each other)
• "what happens on the mat is a mirror for what happens in life" isn't as ridiculous as it sounds.
• I wonder who reads this blog. 58 differnet computers have been directed to this site.
• that I would probably forget what I wanted to post on my blog today