Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Full Moon Snow-shoe
All day the weather forecast was threatening freezing rain. Aggghhh!
My early morning trainer ride was spinning along all the while I looking out the front window at a cornucopia of weather right before my very eyes. Who needs TV, DVD or anything else for that matter, when you look out the window at rain, sleet, fog, sunshine ~ repeat! The weather was not looking promising for our get together.
When I threw out the idea of our snow-shoe, I included a Pot-Luck East Indian theme for the fare. What better way to get the creative juices flowing than by challenging everyone to come up with some delectable delights. So far, my procrastinating ways have not changed in 2012 but luckily for me, there is a new East Indian grocery store in the plaza where I work, so with ingredient list in hand I scoured the shelves looking for spices I've never even heard off. I picked up everything required to make the Mango Cucumber Potato Salad, Mango Salsa and I cheated and bought a very spicy Lime Pickle. All the while I was in town, it was in fact raining and sleeting, aggghhhh, all I could do was continue with my Full Moon chant and prayers to the weather Gods. During my drive home the weather and the wind was shifting, you could feel it getting colder and when I finally arrived home with my bundle of groceries it was starting to snow! YES!
While I was preparing the recipes I kept going to my back door and peering out I finally saw what I'd wished for all day!
My early morning trainer ride was spinning along all the while I looking out the front window at a cornucopia of weather right before my very eyes. Who needs TV, DVD or anything else for that matter, when you look out the window at rain, sleet, fog, sunshine ~ repeat! The weather was not looking promising for our get together.
When I threw out the idea of our snow-shoe, I included a Pot-Luck East Indian theme for the fare. What better way to get the creative juices flowing than by challenging everyone to come up with some delectable delights. So far, my procrastinating ways have not changed in 2012 but luckily for me, there is a new East Indian grocery store in the plaza where I work, so with ingredient list in hand I scoured the shelves looking for spices I've never even heard off. I picked up everything required to make the Mango Cucumber Potato Salad, Mango Salsa and I cheated and bought a very spicy Lime Pickle. All the while I was in town, it was in fact raining and sleeting, aggghhhh, all I could do was continue with my Full Moon chant and prayers to the weather Gods. During my drive home the weather and the wind was shifting, you could feel it getting colder and when I finally arrived home with my bundle of groceries it was starting to snow! YES!
While I was preparing the recipes I kept going to my back door and peering out I finally saw what I'd wished for all day!
 |
| The Moon Dance paid off! |
It was so great to catch up with everyone! This was the group I'd met so many years ago when we all started running at the Running Room. Albeit they are much younger and faster runners, it is just amazing that we have kept in touch over the years. Running and Triathlons seem to make an unbreakable bond.
 |
| Our gracious host's beautiful Christmas Tree |
 |
| Heading into the night |
 |
| A quick regroup |
 |
| it was getting colder |
 |
| and colder |
 |
| breaking a new trail |
 |
| ski's are just fine too! |
 |
| where I live is gorgeous |
When we emerged from the bush it was really cold and very windy, many had thought that they'd over dressed for the event, but once we were back in the open everyone was scrambling to zip back up their jackets and pull their toques down further on their heads.
Once back at the house the food prep was in full swing! Every element on the gas stove was in use, the oven was on heating up nan bread, delicious aromas were wafting through the air and believe me, just hearing the laughter, the tales of first time snow-shoer's, toasting the new year and hearing all about their Ironman training made it all worth while. What a great way to kick off 2012! Wishing all of you great success while getting ready for Ironman Mt. Tremblant! See you out on the roads and at the pool!
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
Friday, 6 January 2012
almost the weekend
it's Friday!
So that means back to the pool for lane swim and I can hardly wait! I love swimming and especially love how all my winter aches and pains just seem to slip away in the pool. Hopefully I'll be ready to tackle the 2012 Bring on the Bay in July. Registration opens February 1st!!
Rumour has it that this year will be the first year without the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour. How can that be?
So, between swimming today, preparing food for the Full Moon Snow-shoe and perhaps getting some cross country skiing in, it will be a busy, fun weekend. Hope yours is too!
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
So that means back to the pool for lane swim and I can hardly wait! I love swimming and especially love how all my winter aches and pains just seem to slip away in the pool. Hopefully I'll be ready to tackle the 2012 Bring on the Bay in July. Registration opens February 1st!!
 |
| setting up the buoys for the 3k race |
Rumour has it that this year will be the first year without the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour. How can that be?
 |
| there are hundreds of cyclists |
 |
| finding your bag isn't always easy |
 |
| yes, there are hills! |
 |
| but good friends can conquer anything together |
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
Thursday, 5 January 2012
There is a light at the end of the tunnel
and it isn't just the train!
Even though I have all sorts of "real" life drama going on and I have most likely been subconsciously using it as an excuse to not set some 2012 goals, there are a few things on the horizon.
This weekend a group of friends are getting together for our Full Moon Snowshoe. We pile into a friends beautiful home with all of our pot-luck fare and then head out into the wilds for fun, laughter and a good workout. This year we will be doing the Full Moon Dance so that we can be certain the moon comes out to play with us. It won't be a late night of frivolity this year as a majority of the group are training for Ironman Mt. Tremblant.
Also included in my moderate goals for this year (so far), is the 30th Annual Richmond Road Race. I've learned from past experiences that this is one of the most fun races of the year. Considering the weather can be anything from -40C to +10C, I generally just run the 5k, after all I haven't been out running since Thanksgiving weekend in October!!
On a totally crazy whim, I stuck my name into the New York City Marathon Lottery. So far no word but if perchance I do get in, then with any luck, so will my friend Shelley from Born to Endure and we can have a blogger meet up! Wouldn't that be just awesome?
So, in fact there are a few irons (ahhemmmm) in the proverbial fire, nothing has been fully committed to just yet.
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
Even though I have all sorts of "real" life drama going on and I have most likely been subconsciously using it as an excuse to not set some 2012 goals, there are a few things on the horizon.
This weekend a group of friends are getting together for our Full Moon Snowshoe. We pile into a friends beautiful home with all of our pot-luck fare and then head out into the wilds for fun, laughter and a good workout. This year we will be doing the Full Moon Dance so that we can be certain the moon comes out to play with us. It won't be a late night of frivolity this year as a majority of the group are training for Ironman Mt. Tremblant.
Also included in my moderate goals for this year (so far), is the 30th Annual Richmond Road Race. I've learned from past experiences that this is one of the most fun races of the year. Considering the weather can be anything from -40C to +10C, I generally just run the 5k, after all I haven't been out running since Thanksgiving weekend in October!!
On a totally crazy whim, I stuck my name into the New York City Marathon Lottery. So far no word but if perchance I do get in, then with any luck, so will my friend Shelley from Born to Endure and we can have a blogger meet up! Wouldn't that be just awesome?
So, in fact there are a few irons (ahhemmmm) in the proverbial fire, nothing has been fully committed to just yet.
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
If you look hard enough
Yesterday's post sounded all doom and gloom and really I'm not in the throws of a meltdown. Truly, I'm okay. It is just that reality has jumped right up and then bit me in the ass. As I'm learning to cope with a parent and their old age, a best friends terminal illness and the general lack of planning for the future on my part, it has really taken its toll on me. It has been exactly like looking through the Looking Glass to see that measures must be taken as I ease into "old age". Financial planning and obtaining some sort of medical plan are top priority as we glide into 2012. Working on contract certainly has its advantages, but it also has many disadvantages...so procuring a medical plan is definitely top of the list.
Considering that I fling myself into wild and crazy adventures with gay abandon and put no real thought of possible consequences, having a back up plan is justified. One never knows but then again, if we worry about every possible scenario of injury well who on earth would do what we do...swim, bike and run!!!
As 2012 rumbles on, I'm learning to look more and more at the bright and cheery side of things, like spending quality time with good friends, seeking solace with nature and knowing that no matter what we do in life, none of us get out of this alive...
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
Considering that I fling myself into wild and crazy adventures with gay abandon and put no real thought of possible consequences, having a back up plan is justified. One never knows but then again, if we worry about every possible scenario of injury well who on earth would do what we do...swim, bike and run!!!
 |
| 3k Bring on the Bay finish 2011 |
 |
| Half Iron Cycle 2011 |
 |
| Olympic distance run 2011 |
 |
 |
| If you look hard enough... |
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
Monday, 2 January 2012
A new year
and I've got nothing to say.
My year is a clean slate, yet I'm not getting any inspiration for that. Odd...
I have been out and about, snow-shoeing, cross country skiing and spending time indoors on the trainer. Yet somehow I'm just going through the motions with no zing or vitality. Hopefully all this is temporary.
I will continue to catch up with your blogs, I'm certain they will give me the spark of life I need at the moment.
Life's fun if you don't weaken
Lily
My year is a clean slate, yet I'm not getting any inspiration for that. Odd...
I have been out and about, snow-shoeing, cross country skiing and spending time indoors on the trainer. Yet somehow I'm just going through the motions with no zing or vitality. Hopefully all this is temporary.
 |
| Blizzard on the trainer |
Life's fun if you don't weaken
Lily
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)