Monday, June 29, 2009
Pet Peeve
It annoys me when smokers flick their cigarette butts out their car windows. If you don’t want those used cancer sticks with your saliva on them in your car ashtray, what makes you think the rest of the world wants your filthy stubs blowing around? If I were King of the World, I’d fill the cars of these smokers with every butt they ever threw out.
Weekend Blur
Saturday – This morning’s run was a 10-miler with 4 miles in the middle at goal pace. I was trying to maintain a 9:00 pace during the goal pace miles, but my dang watch was resetting itself in the middle of the mile so I had no idea what pace I was running. I’ve decided that my next heart rate monitor/watch will include a GPS that automatically tracks my distance and pace. My last goal pace mile was a 9:12 and it was uphill so I’m hoping the other miles were a tad faster and close to my target.
Spent the majority of the afternoon on our deck writing a document for Steve’s Ironman entourage. The Grassi Guide to the Lake Placid Ironman includes information on what to pack, what to expect, maps, and the one thing that if I catch them doing will result in a beating from yours truly. (In case you’re wondering, that one thing is interfering with the course.) That evening I volunteered at the Twilight 4-miler in Ashburn. I was happy to be assigned to work the bag check tent and not the kid’s fun(k) area.
Sunday – Run, crepes, chores, veg.
Spent the majority of the afternoon on our deck writing a document for Steve’s Ironman entourage. The Grassi Guide to the Lake Placid Ironman includes information on what to pack, what to expect, maps, and the one thing that if I catch them doing will result in a beating from yours truly. (In case you’re wondering, that one thing is interfering with the course.) That evening I volunteered at the Twilight 4-miler in Ashburn. I was happy to be assigned to work the bag check tent and not the kid’s fun(k) area.
Sunday – Run, crepes, chores, veg.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Travis and the Little Ladies
My sister-in-law forwarded this letter and picture from her kids' swim coach. The pic is of our 15 year old nephew Travis who is a junior coach for the swim team with some of the kids from the team. I thought it was too cute and had to share.
*************************************
Dear Eagle Family,
If there is ever any question as to why our team has been so successful and why it is so much fun to be on the Eagles, I think that this photo sums it up. Each generation of swimmers is made to feel part of an experience. My children were welcomed by swimmers who are now in their thirties. Our team consistantly wins meets because our older swimmers come back every year and the younger ones don't forget how much fun it was as a 6 and under. I hope the file is not too big.Thank you to ALL of our assistant and junior coaches. It is through you that we set a standard not matched in the ODSL.
*************************************
Dear Eagle Family,
If there is ever any question as to why our team has been so successful and why it is so much fun to be on the Eagles, I think that this photo sums it up. Each generation of swimmers is made to feel part of an experience. My children were welcomed by swimmers who are now in their thirties. Our team consistantly wins meets because our older swimmers come back every year and the younger ones don't forget how much fun it was as a 6 and under. I hope the file is not too big.Thank you to ALL of our assistant and junior coaches. It is through you that we set a standard not matched in the ODSL.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Graduations and Farter's Day
Saturday – Met the AARC bunch for week two of the fall distance training program. I honestly thought that anyone doing a later marathon (late November or December) would have a few more weeks to “relax” before the heavy-duty training started, but I was wrong. Despite being about 6 months away from the Philly Marathon, the coaches have us using the same training program used for the Marine Corp Marathon which is one month before Philly. Our prize is a longer training season. So much for having more time to slack off. Anyway, I ran the first 3-4 miles pretty slow so that I could keep some of the newer runners company. About 6 miles into my 14-miler, the skies opened up and it began to rain. At first, the rain was refreshing and a welcome relief from the humidity. But by mile 12 my socks were wet and my shoes were feeling pretty heavy.
The rain stopped in time for our nephew Randy’s graduation party. Since he’ll be going to Mason in the fall, we got him a sweatshirt that he loved. Such a relief since it’s so hard to pick out a gift that’s personal and practical for a 17-year old.
Sunday – Met up with some AARC members for an easy run in Leesburg. The course had a lot of rolling hills so I’m not sure if I’d classify it as “easy”. Steve and I made another trip to Glen Burnie to visit my parents for Father’s Day. Summertime means steamed crabs. Yum-o. The first batch of the summer did not disappoint. After dinner, we played a few games of Ladderball before heading back to NoVA.
The rain stopped in time for our nephew Randy’s graduation party. Since he’ll be going to Mason in the fall, we got him a sweatshirt that he loved. Such a relief since it’s so hard to pick out a gift that’s personal and practical for a 17-year old.
Sunday – Met up with some AARC members for an easy run in Leesburg. The course had a lot of rolling hills so I’m not sure if I’d classify it as “easy”. Steve and I made another trip to Glen Burnie to visit my parents for Father’s Day. Summertime means steamed crabs. Yum-o. The first batch of the summer did not disappoint. After dinner, we played a few games of Ladderball before heading back to NoVA.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Double Yolk
Double Yolk
Originally uploaded by cherrydg
Now I'm a little sad after being reminded of what I'm eating.
Friday, June 19, 2009
I Ruv Ravelry
Raverly (http://www.ravelry.com/) is an online knitting/crocheting community. Why do I love thee? For starters, you can search for patterns – both free and for purchase – via different search criteria such as craft (knit vs. crochet), category (baby, hats, scarves), keywords including names of books, magazines, and designers, and user rating. When you find a pattern you like, you get the basic information about the pattern from the designer such as the type of yarn they used, how much yarn the project requires, and the needle/hook size. The kick-a$$ part of Ravelry (yes, crafts associated with granny can actually kick a$$), is that you can view the projects of users who have used the same pattern. Why am I so jazzed about this? This is helpful because it lets you see what the project looks like using different types of yarn. Maybe I can only afford the $4 yarn and not the $60 yarn the designer recommends; with Ravelry I can see what other yarns people have used and what size hook/needle they ended up using for that particular yarn.
Users can also provide a rating to indicate the difficulty of the project as well as their overall happiness with it. What’s really helpful is when users post comments about their projects. I was once stuck on a row in a project and after reading the comments of someone else working on the same project was able to confirm that there was a mistake in the pattern. If users blog about their projects, they can also provide links to their blogs or simply comment on other users’ projects.
All the useful things to a knitter/crocheter are linked in Ravelry. For example, for any project I can click a link for the yarn used in the project, find out what people have to say about the yarn, and also toss in my two cents. From the yarn’s page, I can also look at every project made using that yarn or search for any patterns that used that yarn. I can view all projects made by any user. (It’s like show-and-tell without the pressure of speaking in public.)
Every Ravelry user has a notebook where they can keep track of their projects. For each project, you can add your comments, update your progress, and add pictures. Did I mention that Ravelry links to Flickr so you can link to your already uploaded pictures? When you’re browsing through patterns and projects, you can tag your favorites and also add projects to your queue. You can reorder your queue and even add details about the yarn you want to use, who you’re making the project for, needle size, and so much more. My queue is long and constantly growing and getting re-ordered.
Users can also provide a rating to indicate the difficulty of the project as well as their overall happiness with it. What’s really helpful is when users post comments about their projects. I was once stuck on a row in a project and after reading the comments of someone else working on the same project was able to confirm that there was a mistake in the pattern. If users blog about their projects, they can also provide links to their blogs or simply comment on other users’ projects.
All the useful things to a knitter/crocheter are linked in Ravelry. For example, for any project I can click a link for the yarn used in the project, find out what people have to say about the yarn, and also toss in my two cents. From the yarn’s page, I can also look at every project made using that yarn or search for any patterns that used that yarn. I can view all projects made by any user. (It’s like show-and-tell without the pressure of speaking in public.)
Every Ravelry user has a notebook where they can keep track of their projects. For each project, you can add your comments, update your progress, and add pictures. Did I mention that Ravelry links to Flickr so you can link to your already uploaded pictures? When you’re browsing through patterns and projects, you can tag your favorites and also add projects to your queue. You can reorder your queue and even add details about the yarn you want to use, who you’re making the project for, needle size, and so much more. My queue is long and constantly growing and getting re-ordered.
As with many other social networking sites, Ravelry has its own forums and groups. I actually found a group of knitters who also run. My kind of peeps.
Every time I think to myself, “I wish Ravlery did X”, I find out they already do. I’m sure there’s plenty more the site has to offer that I haven’t discovered yet. In a way I don’t want to discover any more of its features because it’ll mean I’m online when I could actually be working on a project.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
They're Here
Friday, June 12, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
New Toys
Remember when you were a kid and you finally got the new toy or bike that you had been dreaming of? I remember that all I wanted to do was run home from school, finish my homework, so that I could play with that new toy. That new bike was eventually replaced with Pacman and Space Invaders. In my teens, my favorite pastime was talking on the phone so call-waiting and three-way lines were my new “toys”. And then there was my first car: a 1978 Toyota Celica with a sunroof. She had 200,000+ miles when I inherited her from my cousin Tony, who inherited her from my other cousin Debbie, who inherited her from my uncle. She was almost like a family heirloom. I cried when she suffered a premature death after being rear-ended.
In my 20s, new bars and adult beverages became my source of excitement. Bonus points to those bars that had happy hour specials and free food. Eventually, clothes and shoes became my thing – my Dad called me Imelda Marcos on several occasions. When I started going to the gym and running, I supplemented my clothing collection with enough moisture-wicking material to dry up the Amazon. Unearthing my crafty side brought about the discovery of many “toys” that I had to have: yarn, needles, sewing machines, fabric, hooks, and a whole new world of gadgets.
Which brings us to 2009. Our new front-loading washer and dryer from Sears was delivered today. The washer has more options than I’ll probably ever need. The dryer is big enough for me to hide in should I ever have the need.
In my 20s, new bars and adult beverages became my source of excitement. Bonus points to those bars that had happy hour specials and free food. Eventually, clothes and shoes became my thing – my Dad called me Imelda Marcos on several occasions. When I started going to the gym and running, I supplemented my clothing collection with enough moisture-wicking material to dry up the Amazon. Unearthing my crafty side brought about the discovery of many “toys” that I had to have: yarn, needles, sewing machines, fabric, hooks, and a whole new world of gadgets.
Which brings us to 2009. Our new front-loading washer and dryer from Sears was delivered today. The washer has more options than I’ll probably ever need. The dryer is big enough for me to hide in should I ever have the need.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Time Flies
Our nephew's graduation announcement came in the mail the other day with a picture of him when he was just a wee little tyke. Immediate thoughts: (1) Crap. I'm getting old. (2) I can't believe graduation photos still look the same as they did when I graduated. (3) Wasn't I just in high school?
Club Shipton
Steve was up in NH for a race this weekend so I decided to head over to my friends' house for some quality pooltime. Their kids were away so Shel and I spent the day poolside with sangrias while Chris was at a car show. Ahhh....
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Hat Head Hider
Every Saturday morning, I get done with my run and before driving home, I put on a dry t-shirt. I take off my hat/visor, put the t-shirt on, catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and am appalled at the matted mess of sweaty hair that is plastered to my head in a paisley-like pattern.
I decided I wanted to try knitting a kerchief with some leftover yarn (Plymouth Yarn's Jeannee) and found this pattern. It didn't turn out like expected it to; it's a tad droopier and heavier than I expected. I'm not sure if it's the yarn, the pattern, or a combination of the two so I'll be trying this yarn with a different kerchief pattern.
I decided I wanted to try knitting a kerchief with some leftover yarn (Plymouth Yarn's Jeannee) and found this pattern. It didn't turn out like expected it to; it's a tad droopier and heavier than I expected. I'm not sure if it's the yarn, the pattern, or a combination of the two so I'll be trying this yarn with a different kerchief pattern.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
The Other Man
Me: So I realized this morning that Steve has gone away with Joe more times than he's gone away with me this year
Me: Joe:4 - Me:0
Me: I'm not sure if I should be jealous
Al: lol
Al: the other man
Me: i know!
Me: I'm feelin like a 3rd wheel
Me: I made sure to say good night to him before he called Joe b/c they can talk forever
Al: heh heh...i think other women would be worried....lots of working out....lots of spandex....another man....cherry. i'm sorry to break it to you....but Steve's gone gay.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Kashi Mayan Harvest Bake
Kashi Mayan Harvest Bake
Originally uploaded by cherrydg
It does look awful, but I'm hooked. It's a weird mosh of stuff (plaintains, sweet potatoes, black beans, kale, polenta, pumpkin seeds, and a mildly spicy sauce), but it works.
BTW, if you're wondering, "Doesn't she anything better to do than blog about her lunch?" The answer is "No, I don't have anything better to do."
Weekend Recap
Friday – Grocery shopping (admit it, you’re jealous of my glamorous lifestyle) and movie night. Endured watching Seven Pounds. Way too long and drawn out.
Saturday – My weekly scheduled duathlon (run and swim). One of the other guys in my swimming class finally showed up again after being MIA for two weeks. Even though the personal instruction was nice while it lasted, I enjoy having someone else over the age of 5 floundering in the pool with me. Steve was done with his bike ride by noon so we actually got to spend a big chunk of time together for the first time in months. Dropped off his bike at Bonzai for a tune-up since he has the Mooseman Tri up in NH next weekend. Swung by Road Runner Sports for some new gear then over to Pottery Barn in Reston. I’ve had a $250 gift card from PB for years that I’ve yet to spend. I can never seem to find anything I want and am willing to pay their prices for. This visit was no different; maybe I’ll try their online store to see if I have better luck. William Sonoma, Panera, then off to Home Depot to exchange our propane tank. We haven’t needed a new tank in a while so I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had automated the propane buying/exchange process ~ so convenient except for the random child who decided he wanted to play with the touch screen while we were using it. Cooked out on the grill then ate dinner al fresco on the Grassi-hut’s deck.
Sunday – Met up with Mandy for a hill workout in Leesburg. Cooked up some crepes for b’fast then headed to Lowes to check out washer and dryers. Our 12 year old GE set is toeing the appliance death line. We checked out a bunch of reviews for the models that we saw at Lowes and still have no idea what to get. If you happen to love/hate your washer and dryer, let me know.
Saturday – My weekly scheduled duathlon (run and swim). One of the other guys in my swimming class finally showed up again after being MIA for two weeks. Even though the personal instruction was nice while it lasted, I enjoy having someone else over the age of 5 floundering in the pool with me. Steve was done with his bike ride by noon so we actually got to spend a big chunk of time together for the first time in months. Dropped off his bike at Bonzai for a tune-up since he has the Mooseman Tri up in NH next weekend. Swung by Road Runner Sports for some new gear then over to Pottery Barn in Reston. I’ve had a $250 gift card from PB for years that I’ve yet to spend. I can never seem to find anything I want and am willing to pay their prices for. This visit was no different; maybe I’ll try their online store to see if I have better luck. William Sonoma, Panera, then off to Home Depot to exchange our propane tank. We haven’t needed a new tank in a while so I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had automated the propane buying/exchange process ~ so convenient except for the random child who decided he wanted to play with the touch screen while we were using it. Cooked out on the grill then ate dinner al fresco on the Grassi-hut’s deck.
Sunday – Met up with Mandy for a hill workout in Leesburg. Cooked up some crepes for b’fast then headed to Lowes to check out washer and dryers. Our 12 year old GE set is toeing the appliance death line. We checked out a bunch of reviews for the models that we saw at Lowes and still have no idea what to get. If you happen to love/hate your washer and dryer, let me know.
Rolled Edge Cardigan Update
Rolled Edge Cardigan Sleeves
Originally uploaded by cherrydg
3+ weeks into knitting this cardigan and all I have to show are sleeves. This is gonna take a while.
Seastar
Seastar (top)
Originally uploaded by cherrydg
I finally finished knitting this seastar last weekend. The pattern is from Hansi Singh's Amigurumi Knits book. Check out her other amazing creations: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hansigurumi/
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