the picture I alluded to

I am finally getting a minute where everything comes together so I can post this picture:

I think this is his "come hither with more crackers" look. So perfect with his new hat. (Thanks, Cassie for sending this to me.)

Today is only Day 2 of our three day weekend...the weather is cold and windy though so it looks like it will be a mostly indoor kind of day. Tomorrow is supposed to be even colder, down to single digits if I recall correctly. Brrrr!!

My moment on the computer is already coming to an end. I hear the stirrings of breakfast in the kitchen. Yum!

blustery morning

My oh my, is it ever blustery this morning. It snowed a bit last night and now the wind is blowing it all about. Brrrr...it was a quick trip outside for Tiika and I. There were too many noisy things in the air like plastic bags. We were both a bit spooked.

Yesterday at work we began interviewing to fill our GIS position. This is the first time I have ever been on the hiring side of the table. The whole situation is providing me a good opportunity to prep for my near future. It is also freaking me out a bit. Probably a good thing, I need a little bit more of a kick in the pants to get the ball moving.

Next time I'll have a picture to post...can anyone guess the subject??

mish mash, catch up

I've been meaning to post this link for over a week now and keep running out of time. I am putting it first so no more excuses! It's a short piece on a place of great interest to us these days. Safety counts, ya know. Thanks, Cassie! (The only thing I can't figure is why it's under weird news...)

Yesterday I took my first run with another person (other than the two "races" I've entered and one training run with Rob when I was in better shape than I am today). It was interesting and hard. She seemed challenged to go at my slow pace. Regardless, I had a hard time conversing with her and kept shooting questions her way so she had to talk and not me. The frustrating part was that she would toss questions my way that I really wanted to answer so I had to wheeze out my words.

I mentioned my slow pace, right? I don't think I could go any slower without walking. As long as I'm not talking, which I'm usually not since I go alone or with Tiika who doesn't converse with me that way, I feel fine about my pace. I think it's simply a matter of getting in better shape. I'm planning to ask my friend if she'd be willing to run with me every couple of weeks or so because I think this might be a good way for me to measure my fitness progress.

Last weekend I got a good start on my ArtFest trades, both the ones I'm doing only for my housemates and also the inchies I'm doing for general trading. I'd like to spend some time this weekend puttering on them. When I have some inchies finished, I intend to post pictures. The other ones are going to be a surprise so no pictures. I like doing things for people that will be even slightly unexpected.

I'd say that wrap things up for now. Have a great weekend!

ironic

On Monday I took my first run of the New Year. I was surprised at how great I felt! Runners high, endorphins firing, cheesy grin. I had to slow to a stop a couple of times but it was almost more a mental need than a physical one.

Then yesterday morning I woke up with a headache and a general, not-feeling-so-good body. I went back to sleep for a little bit while Rob took care of Tiika in the hopes that it would help. No go. I ended up staying home from work. It just seemed like the best idea with everything that goes around this time of year.

I spent the entire day on the couch, snuggled with Tiika, reading. I still feel sort of woozy this morning. Hopefully being vertical for a while will be enough to overcome that sensation.

It was kind of a strange, low-grade sickness. I wonder if running on Monday somehow protected me from getting hit harder. I like to think so.

Here's greater health and more regular exercise in the New Year!

resolutions?

I've never been a big New Year's Resolutions kind of gal. As a pre-teen/teenager it was more about making predictions. I'd write them out on a piece of notebook paper, seal them in an envelope and stash it in a desk drawer to be opened at the beginning of the following year. I wasn't ever very accurate in my guesses. Mostly they were hopes for the future rather than goals I was going to achieve though I suppose I did my best to attract that hunky boyfriend of my dreams.

I guess I like to believe I notice things that need to be handled through out the year and start working on them. Sometimes the steps I'm taking are obvious, sometimes not-so-much. This year I'm thinking there might be something to making resolutions at the same time as everyone else. Peer pressure and the pure energy factor being the driving factors. Everyone is focused on bringing their best selves forward. The potential is awesome. I wonder if there have been studies on productivity in January. Probably.

How do you feel about New Year's Resolutions?