The good, the bad and the ugly May 31, 2006
Posted by irishmadness in Running, The Guys, Work madness.2 comments
Today was one heck of a day. It started when I actually got up at 7 to go running, only to realize it was raining outside. So I waited about an hour to get up, which meant it was almost 9 when I finally headed out. It was nice when I started, but got very hot and muggy by the end of my five-mile run. (Well, slog really. It was a little too slow to be called a run.)
So I headed home, showered, lay in bed with the fan going and made a strawberry soy protein smoothie in a vain attempt to cool down before work.
I got to work, started working on the inside pages of our weekly entertainment section, and discovered that instead of fairly basic pages, the desk guys left me with a two-page non-linear feature. Now, I’ve done stuff like that once or twice before, but I generally have plenty of time to think, plus it’s in a news section where it doesn’t have to be too feature-y to look cool. So I headed out for a walk to chill out. I was smart enough to fill my now-empty smoothie squeeze bottle with cold water first. By the time I got back, I was calmer, but back to being all hot and sweaty. *sigh* Fortunately, EE was back from lunch and promised to help me when he was done with the cover story design. Just knowing that helped, so when I finished everything else, I started playing around, figuring he could help me rip it apart and build it new again better than starting from scratch. By the time he had time, I had pulled together a rough layout that he actually liked. He made some suggestions to police it, mostly regarding evening out the white space, but that was about it.
Meanwhile, my sister and WG have been bickering via e-mail – my e-mail. She sent a comment today I knew would get a great reaction from him, so I called him at home tonight to fill him in and get his response. My end of the conversation was necessarily restricted because I was in the middle of the mostly empty newsroom, but his wasn’t. I had to bite my tongue a few times because the smart-ass response would have either revealed who I was talking to or not been appropriate for work. But it was a funny interlude in the night.
Little else new here, but my annual review should be either Friday or Monday, so expect another post then with either a rant or rejoicing.
She lives! May 23, 2006
Posted by irishmadness in Running, Trixie Friends, Work madness.1 comment so far
No, I haven’t died. I’ve just been busy.
Quick hit update:
* My trip to Richmond ended a day early after Aleta got a bug. Not wanting to get germs, I headed home. She was very understanding.
* I did, however, see the Maggie L. Walker house. She was not only the first female bank president, but the first black female bank president. It was a cool tour, and well worth the time. I only went because it was in the area where I parked and was free, but I’m glad I did.
* I ended up taking about a week off from running for various reasons, but actually didn’t lose any ground in terms of distance. I ran 2.5 miles Monday – my first day back – and could easily have done three. After the first mile, I got into a groove.
* Unfortunately, it was also the first really warm day since I’ve been running, so I didn’t think to put sunscreen on even though I wasn’t wearing the hoodie over my tank top. My shoulders are very red right now. *sigh* I’ll remember from now on; it was a painful lesson.
* I came up with the best cover design at work for our annual graduation section, but my boss didn’t decide to use it until it was too late to actually do it. So we’re saving the idea for next year. On the plus side, this means I get at least part of the award for the design contest he was running to come up with a cover.
* Our food section for tomorrow has a recipe for homemade microwave popcorn, which I’m going to have to try. 
* I’m getting new running sneakers on Saturday! There’s nothing better than hitting the road in new sneakers – they always feel so comfortable compared to the old ones.
* Unfortunately, my holiday weekend will be spent at the office, including my birthday. But I do have some plans in mind so it won’t be all bad – and working Monday means I can take a four-day weekend next month without using vacation time.
Still running May 10, 2006
Posted by irishmadness in Healthy Living, Running.add a comment
My iPod rocks! I tweaked my running playlist and managed to run for almost 30 minutes today – 2.25 miles total. (.85R/.25W/1.4R) Yes, I actually almost made it 1.5 miles in one stretch. I probably could have, but I ran out of tunes.
I’m going to tweak it again in the morning so the first and second sections aren’t so lopsided. Anyway, I’m thinking I can hit 7 or 8 miles total this week, which puts me easily on track for 10 during the last week of the month. (If, of course, I run the rest of this week.)
I can feel myself getting in shape though. My muscles are rarely sore in the afternoons anymore, and I don’t huff and puff nearly as much. Once I can build up a milage base, I’ll be in good shape, since tired muscles are what’s holding me back now.
Next week’s goal is to keep the same playlist as tomorrow, but try and cover more ground than I did this week. Then I’ll tweak the playlist for the last full week to add in more running time, probably enough to keep me going through June.
This week’s goal: 7 miles total
Next week’s goal: 9 miles total
May goal: 10 miles a week
June goal: 15 miles a week
July goal: Maintain 15 mile weekly total and race in July 4th 5K
I’m back! May 3, 2006
Posted by irishmadness in Healthy Living, Trixie Friends, Work madness.1 comment so far
Yesterday was really the only day I had an excuse for not posting. It was local Election Day, with all the craziness that entails.
Other news:
* WG is up to his ears in both farm stuff and work craziness, so we’re on hiatus, more or less. Since he’s averaging less than six hours a night of sleep between putting in full days at both jobs, I can’t really complain.
* It’s also making it easier for me to get to bed earlier, which I’m hoping will translate into more running. Alas, today was back at Day 1, since I didn’t run or walk Sunday or Tuesday. Monday I did a little mall walking after my root canal, but that was about it. On the plus side, I did squeeze in 3/4 mile today, and will remember to have a slice of toast with PB tomorrow morning so I have the energy to do the full 1.5 miles.
* I did a few hours of cooking Monday night and have a freezer full of meals for a month. Average cost: 50 cents per meal. Tough to beat that. And since they’re ready to go, I can’t really complain that I don’t have time to cook.
* I managed to set aside $20 for running sneakers over the last few weeks, and I’m hoping to save up enough before I have to replace mine that I don’t have to dip into savings.
* That’s especially good because my savings is basically going toward my dentists for the next few months, between two root canals and the necessary crowns. *sigh* At least I have good dental insurance.
* MTM apparently is continuing to make trouble for SE over this project I’m working on with them, but he’s pushed SE a little too far. I’m forseeing a showdown between those two in the next few months.
* I finally get to see at least one Trixie friend this weekend, when I celebrate Aleta’s new (to her) gas grill with a backyard cookout. It’s been forever since I’ve seen Trixie friends. *sigh*
