You may wonder...

what I'm up to lately.

Life has been busy with all sorts of things going on, why should my life be any different from yours ~ right? Right. So far 2010 has seen me through a battery of medical tests and there are a few more to go. Believe me, nothing is serious, I'm just not leaving any orifice untouched so to speak. Aren't I lucky to have health care? Well, I have OHIP, my provincial health care, I don't have any from work.

Today is a bogus Stat Holiday here in Ontario by the name of "Family Day", just another one of those convoluted holidays where some people get it and others don't...go figure, welcome to Canada.  I've spent my day doing actually everything I've wanted to do, don't hate me okay!

This morning I slept in, then played with Lily while enjoying a great breakfast.  Then loaded the xcountry ski's into the car and went up for a ski around the park.  Between not having enough snow and more than likely a very busy weekend in the park, the trails were not great, in fact they were awful, some spots were almost bare and some areas were littered full of pine needles and pine gum, I ended up skiing off the trails out into the unbroken, un-groomed campsite trails and enjoyed myself far better.  My new ski's certainly took a beating.  GAH!

I came back home and tidied the ski's up but it was such a nice day I didn't want to just stay in the house, so I headed out for a walk along the river.

I took a ton of photo's, too many to post on blogger.  Here a just a few....

Anyway, while I was out walking along the frozen river, I met up with a neighbour of mine, you know the type of person you never hardly see but when you do you have just so much fun and so much to talk about?  We had discussed cycling together last year but she had injured her shoulder and I had injured my knee, so neither one of us did cycle together at all!

Annie had been an amazing runner but was injured in a really stupid accident years ago when we all played co-ed touch football.  Yes, the guys had the testosterone flowing that day and sandwich tackled Annie, she almost lost her leg due to the injury, but she has rallied back and is still very active and she is back cycling.  We got chatting about the bike tour we had talked about doing together last year....you know where this is going, don't you?

....it certainly wasn't intentional for me to have 2010 turn into the year of volunteering or really signing up for any specific road race geared towards a special cause, but for some reason, life is steering me towards fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis, don't ask me why but it is.

 The Kilt Run in June is a fund raiser for MS. I've been screaming about the Kilt Run for months now.

Maybe it is subliminal because a former colleague and still a great friend of mine is suffering from the effects of MS.

Well, you guessed it, Annie and I have just signed up for the *MS 150K Bike Tour in August.  Yup, Ottawa to Kemptville and back!!!  Yikes, a 200K in June and now this....I love my life!!

I just get crazier as I get older!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

*I'm not one to flog donating money in real life let alone on my blog, but if you would care to donate (I have to raise a minimum of $250.00), you can contact me if you so desire.

I met a wise woman

After a particularly craptastic day at work on Friday I decided to go for a ski just to relieve some pent up anger. I headed up to the park and headed out, but for some reason, not sure why, whether it was because I wasn't focused and still had my head at work, but I didn't have a very good ski.  I've learned over the years, whether it was schooling one of my horses or even while running, I give something the ten minute test and if I'm not seeing the results I want, I pack it up and try another day.

Saturday arrived and it was a nice day, once I got Lily a little more comfortable and got groceries purchased and  unpacked, I went back to the park.  There were quiet a few skiers out on the trails and I caught up with a very nice couple, we skied together for a little while.  The Wise Woman said to me "go ahead, I'm very slow and a little nervous", well, I'd hit Mecca!  Another skier just like me!!!

We skied along until we got to the first series of hills.  I told her, "don't worry about me, just go ahead".  She asked me if I was scared and I told her yes.  Well, out of the mouth of the Wise Woman came words I will never forget.   Don't follow the classic track, snowplough down the hill and if you fall it won't be as devastating.   I watched the wise woman do exactly that and lo and behold I tried it and it worked!  No fall, no stress, just a feeling of accomplishment.  I lost them along the trails and I never had the chance to thank her, but until I get some more confidence that is exactly what I'll be doing.....I've got your number Mr. Hill.

Sunday I was up at the butt-crack of dawn to volunteer at the Hypothermic Half Marathon.  We had to be there for 6:30am.  It is still dark out at that time people!  I received an email saying that they were desperate for volunteers so I coerced Nat into volunteering as well, so it was going to be a fun day.  After a 45 minute drive and two phone calls to Nat,  we finally met up.  Please go to her blog to read all about the race.  Thanks for the shout out Nat, I had a great time!!!  I can't contribute any more of what Nat wrote other than;

a) using a Port-a-Pottie in the middle of January takes "stones"

b) don't leave your camera and Nat in the car unsupervised !!!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Feel the fear and do it anyway...

or

When did I become such a candy-ass?

Saturday dawned VERY COLD (-28C with the wind chill) and fairly windy, I had made arrangements to meet with a friend to cross country ski over in the Gatineau's, but is was just way too cold...or so I thought from looking out my front hall window.

After exchanging several emails back and forth it was decided that we wouldn't go over to Quebec, I figured I'd stay close to home and if I decided to go out at all, it would be cross country skiing in the Park.

Well, I bundled up and headed out, I won't even begin to tell you how many layers I had on...but as you can see by my silhouette, LOTS!!

When I got to the park and signed in there were only four other skiers out there.  This would be great, I'd have the trails to myself and chug along at my own slow pace.  A few years ago I had a really nasty fall, well two falls actually on the same ski, during one fall I injured my ribs quite badly and the second fall happened while trying to ski back to my car.  I fell backwards down a hill hitting my head and was actually unconscious for a little while.  It was at that time I figured I'd retire from skiing altogether.

So this ski would be really about facing my fears in the park...and that I did....I trucked along the trails really enjoying the sights and sounds....until I came to 'the hill'...I actually stood and looked down and I started to shake...crazy huh?  Well, I decided I was actually going to take my ski's off and walk down....I waited over 10 minutes...and I finally said to myself  "you candy ass", just do it...who's going to win this?  You or a stupid hill....so I mustered up all my courage and headed down the hill....and yup, I fell....but with dignity and as much control as possible....but I went down the hill....on my candy ass!!!

Once I got back up I didn't even bother to dust myself off, the snow on my pants was the badge of merit I needed to continue my ski with pride....with that fall out of the way I could finally take some pictures.

Enjoy

skiing through the marshes

heading back into the forest

new Madshus ski's

I was out for over an hour and half and I have to admit that even though I only skied 6K it was tiring, especially since when I started out I was so tense in anticipation of a fall, once I got that out of the way I really did enjoy the day...cold weather and all!!!

When I got home flipped on the fireplace, relaxed and enjoyed an adult BEvERage....

home is where the hearth is

What's in your front hall ??

This morning I met up with some friends at the Running Room and enjoyed my first real run of the new year and decade...a brisk 5K run....and you know what?

It felt GREAT!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Full Moon Madness

or Retail Therapy, you decide....

I hate shopping almost as much as I dislike winter, but since I live in this climate I might as well embrace it.

The past few years I've suffered terribly from SAD (seasonal affective disorder).  There was NO way that it was going to beat me up again this year, so I've been popping Vitamins' C and D since September and trying to get out into the winter weather as much as possible.  What better way than snow shoeing and cross country skiing!!  I've skied before and although I'm slow and had a pretty hard fall a few years ago I had decided to hang up my equipment.  (I actually made a pretty nifty outdoor winter decoration with the old ski's)....but since I've been snowshoeing I realised I have a need for speed.

Why walk when you can run?  Why not include ski's again?  Well, why not????  Last Sunday I went over to the Quebec side to Greg Christies bike and ski shop.  What a treat this place is!  As soon as I walked in I was greated by Glen who ended up helping me select the perfect cross country ski package.  We talked about expectations, skill level (or lack thereof) and where I would be doing most of my skiing.   I ended up getting Madshus boots and ski's and of course poles (even though I have a pair).  I even talked to Glen about upgrading my bike (ssshhh, don't tell Ruby), so I'll be going over in the next couple of weeks and seeing what he suggests...so far the Opus, Alto looks good.  But I really have to do my homework and go to Bushtukah and talk with Erin and Zack...

I've also joined the Kanata Nordic Ski Club which is 5 minutes from my office, so for the past couple of days I've ski'd the trails right after work and I'm gaining my confidence back.  I'm hoping to go to the Gatineau's in Quebec on Saturday for a little more of a challenging ski.  Look out, clear the trails!!!

On the running front, well, let's just say I'm cross training right now, I am going to run on Sunday with Jen and the Richmond Road Race 5K and 10K race the following week will be more of a fun run.  I have to admit, I'm enjoying not having to get ready for a particular race right at the moment. 

Good Luck to everyone running in Disney this weekend, bundle up your buns...who knew it would just a few degrees warmer there than what we are experiencing here!!!  Have fun you guys....and have fun being GOOFY!!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily