Wordless Wednesday

Staycation

Wow, I've lucked out weather wise this week. The weather gods have been smiling since last Friday when I bolted out of the office.

Saturday was very warm when I got up at 5:30am, so I got dressed in my running gear and out the door I went. It was gorgeous and I love hot weather, the sun had just risen and the birds were chirping (man they can be noisy). I've been slowly working my distance up while slowing down my speed. It felt great to be out and enjoying the run but I have to really watch that I don't get carried away, so I stopped at 6K and walked the rest of the way home.

The rest of the day was spent at the beach, sitting on the back deck reading and working in the garden.

Sunday morning was sort of a mixed message, missed calls kind of morning. Initially a few of us were going to ride our bikes downtown but that got changed, it was so nice out I really didn't want to spend the day down in the Byward Market milling about in stores. As it turned out I missed out on contacting Brenda, but was in touch with Karen and we headed off for a little bike tour from Arnprior to Parkenham. It was 25K to get to Scoops Ice Cream Shop where we took a much deserved break, after all, its all about the ice cream!

Pakenham is a small community on the shores of the Mississippi River here in Eastern Ontario.

Population is probably in the 3-digit range, with a few shops, a bank, a couple of restaurants, a furniture and butchery (go left for sofas, right for steaks), and of course Scoops great ice cream stand.

There is also the only North American 5 span bridge that was built in 1901. Very picturesque.

You'd think that if is was 25K there is would be the same distance back, but due to the Sunday summer traffic we changed it up a little for the ride home. With the wind at our back we headed off on our way home. What a gorgeous ride and just so nice to get out on the bike for my first big ride since March.

Lily loves it when I'm home, she lounges around on the back deck, is always on high alert for her friend the chipmunk and she can be seen hiding under the hostas just waiting for her little furry friend.

Today is overcast and humid, but I wanted to get my run in just in case the skies opened up and we were hit with rain.

I debated as to whether I should wear my fuel belt or not. The past several runs I haven't bothered, but I decided I should. I unearthed it from where I had packed it last March and grabbed a bottle of PowerAid and out I went. The sky was threatening to rain and the wind had picked up, but it was perfect. I decided to try a very slow 8K, it was going to be a stretch for me, but I went really slowly and made sure to take my walk breaks.

Happily I can report I made 8k, albeit my knee is a little achy right now as I sit here at the computer.

Well, the sun has just poked her head out and I'm heading outside, tomorrow is our Canada Day, celebrations will be taking place across our fair nation.

Catch up with you later,

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

Back at it

So, I'm back at it, although I'm not quite ready for any races at the moment. I've been working my way back slowly, really slowly and I'm up to 6K comfortably. My new Saucony's that I purchased while at the sports expo during the May Ottawa Race Weekend are really helping the situation. Even though I've worn Saucony's 90 % of my running career, I think the pair I was wearing during the winter were part of my knee problem.

Winter running is totally different, I understand that, but for some reason the pair of shoes I was wearing were never that "comfortable", they didn't have that cushion feeling to them. Between my S.I. joint, not so comfortable shoes and not being in the best of shape all contributed to my injury. But that is behind me now, I'm being very cognisant of how I feel while I'm out pounding the pavement and I'm still incorporating running 10 minutes walking for 1. I have noticed a change in my gait though, so I'll have to make sure I don't start favouring that leg too much.

For what was to have been a stormy weekend with rain and thundershower's, we really lucked out. Saturday and Sunday ended up being Diamond Days. Sunshine, warmth, gentle summer breezes. It was our real first taste of summer.

After my 6K run on Saturday morning I headed to the beach. I'm on staycation right now and really enjoying my time off. Don't get me wrong, I love my Dad, but when he comes up in May it really isn't a vacation for me. So, I'm taking the opportunity to have an "all about me week".

Cottager's and camper's have made their way back to the "hood". Teenagers have been partying hard on the beaches the last few weeks since they've been released into the wilds and have been let out of school.

Sailboats and speed boats have been battling for space on the Ottawa River, luckily the river is big enough to handle both and still give respect to the kayak's and canoeists.

The migratory waterbird's are back too. Seagull's or as I affectionately call them "Shithawks" are back, along with Turn's, Buffleheads, Mallard's, well you get my drift.

Luckily we don't have too much of a problem with Canada Geese on the beach. They migrate in during the spring and fall, but then they leave because there is so much activity on the beach, they high tail it out and head north or over to Andrew Haydon Park.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day and I ended up going for a 47K bike tour. But more about that later. I'm on staycation, I don't have to sit at my computer! So, I'll catch up with you later, enjoy yourselves.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

$ 60 million dollar day

There really is something wrong with our society (no, this is not a revelation to me), but honestly folks, with people losing their jobs due to inefficient management at (Nortel Networks) who's CEO's and others at the top of the pile are taking HUGE payouts and leaving the worker-bees to fend for themselves. Friends of mine have been laid off one by one, these are single mom's with kids, father's and mother's of the same family who have kids and other friends of mine who are in their 60's and 70's who thought they would have their retirement to live on for the rest of their days. No, No!

The top guys are leaving with millions in their pockets, while my friends have their retirement funds taken back and are left wondering if they have to now look for jobs at age 70, because everything they had, stocks, retirement funds, everything is being yanked away from them.

There is something terribly wrong with this.

Now, don't get me wrong, on this next topic, as I have been involved unions myself at one point or another but here is the most absurd issue EVER.

In Toronto, the largest city of Canada and yes, Toronto considers itself to be the centre of the universe, we have striking city CUPE workers who collect garbage on strike as well as the unionised workers who operate day-care's within the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) . This has gone on for several days, the garbage is piling up and it is stinking to high heaven with the record breaking high temperatures we are experiencing. Now I live hours away from Toronto now, but my father is still there. He says it is very distressing. There has been no real effort to stop this madness nor have they even come close to reaching an agreement with the union.

but here's the clincher;

The province of Ontario has also been in contract talks Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). The LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) want to roll back the number of full time employee's, hire them back as casual labour and therefor do not have to pay for their benefits, pensions and health care as well they can cut their hours of working without having to justify it since they would be considered "casual labour".

"The main issue is the breakdown between full-time and part-time jobs, said Robinson, who added that 60% of LCBO workers fall into the casual worker category and earn an annual income of less than $20,800 per year.“The central issue is what kind of jobs do we want in Ontario?” he said. “ Do we want ones with decent pay and benefits, or insecure part-time, throwaway jobs?”"

It was announced on Tuesday, June 23rd, the LCBO would be going on strike at midnight that night.

People across the province rushed to their local Liquor Control Board of Ontario store in fear that the liquor retailer would be closed for the upcoming long weekend. Many of the stores had their shelves cleared and a spokesperson for the provincial retailer said the LCBO racked up as much as $ 60 million in sales yesterday -- setting a corporation record.


With the fear of a province going dry and with the fear of losing such a cash cow, the province and OPSUE went back to the bargaining table and ratified some of the contract. Therefor no strike. The LCBO is a multimillion dollar corporation and yes, they do pay back and pay forward with monies going to hospitals etc., but are we controlled by unions? Would this have happened if it were privatised and the local depannier or grocery store could sell liquor? The province would never give up this cash cow.

What truly astounded me was the number of people who flocked to the Liquor stores to stock up, it was incredible. (yes, I was one of them, I picked up two bottles of red wine (Domaine Boyer) and a 6 pack of beer, yes, Molson Canadian).

Now, why can they divert a strike when it involves closet alcoholics and huge income maker and not divert a strike which involves the health and safety of a city like Toronto?

I am not educated in such things and do not profess to even begin to understand. And I'm sure I'm missing the point in some cases but really, it make you wonder.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

I took that photo on June 23rd!!

oh, I've also been running 5k and cycling - GO ME!!

Wordless Wednesday

A Letter to this editor

Dear Lily,

It has come to my attention that there seems to be more activity going on with "us" lately than there has been over the past three months. Don't get me wrong, I love to be included on such things as walks, massages, loving caress's as you apply Pensaid or soaking in a hot bathtub with Epsom salts, or propped up with a hot water bottle or even better, ICE. Of course there is my ever fashionable brace during those achy days, but, I just happened to look over the keyboard while you had your feet on your desk at work and noticed that there were two races recently modified on your sidebar.

WTF are you thinking?

You want me to start running distances again as well as all this biking? Are you out of your ever loving mind? Do you not realise the pain we went through with Paetella surgeries years ago and how long we were laid up? Do you not remember the second time when you went for your little sleep, while I was poked, prodded, and suctioned during arthroscopic knee surgery, NO, you don't remember any of this do you?

Are you having a Blonde Moment??

Did I just read that you've signed up for the Canada Army Run in September and the Picton Half Marathon in October???

No wonder we've been getting up really early and going out for these "little training runs", you thought you'd pull one on me didn't you, you thought that you would increase the mileage and I wouldn't notice.

Well, let me tell you something sister, okay, I'll go along for the ride on the bike, but when it comes to this running schnitzzzz, you'd better be ready for me to run right along with you! But remember, you'd better *look after me and I'll look after you.

Yipppeee, we are back in action. Half Marathon training has begun.

Kindest regards,

Your Knee

*'cuz if you don't I'll cause you such pain you'll regret you ever had this blonde moment!!!
xoxoxoxo

I'm starving and it's 9 a.m.

That only means one thing. Yup, I'm back in training! Now, before you get all excited and think that I'm piling on the mileage, no, I'm not. I'm being very sensible (well, whatever that means) and taking my time with distances and speed.

This past week I've been getting up and out the door to go for my early morning runs before I get ready for work. The alarm goes off at 5:30, I have my chat with the Big Guy up stairs (yes, I pray) and then I have my "warm and fuzzy" cuddles with Lily, feed her (you don't think I'd get out the door if she hadn't been fed do you?) and out I go.

Believe it or not, I'm up to a whopping 2.20K in 16 minutes....please, hold back on the applause!

Thrown into the mix, I've been biking after work. I'm still not 100% comfortable doing long distances on my own yet, but on Tuesday after work Wooo Hooo Karen and I had a really nice 30K + ride in sunshine and warm weather. It was fabulous, but note to self, I really need to get a proper tire pump. My hand held pump just doesn't get the right amount of pressure into the tires. So maybe tomorrow I'll head over to Bushtukah and / or Moutain Equipment Co-op and check out what they have to suggest. I have Birthday gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket for Bushtukah, so trust me, I'll find something I want!

Yesterday I took a huge step out of my comfort zone and I went shopping, I HATE shopping, but I was down to the nubs on ever possible staple you need for your house. Last December I actually went to Costco which is about 40 minutes from where I live and got a membership, I really don't understand the philosophy of spending money on memberships when you're going to spend money on items, but I got one anyway. Yes, I walked in, signed up walked out and haven't been back. Duh.

So yesterday having to go out of absolute necessity, really truly, I drove over, parked the car, took a big deep breath and walked in, grab my cart and toured around like a visitor from another planet would. Holy YIKES, who knew all the schnitzzz stuff you can get there. I spent about an hour and half there and well, I now have enough toilet paper and Kleenex to last until I'm 80 years old. Plus, I looked as though I have a family of 12, people kept staring at my cart, maybe they just do that naturally to see what I have that they've forgotten to pick up...

Once I get over the shock of dropping all that money and realizing that when I need to buy more T.P. in 2020, it wasn't such a bad deal after all. Will I go back? Definitely I'll go back because I spotted a sweet little red kayak that would look good on the Ottawa river with me in it!!!

Now that I've consumed my lunch (yes, from Costco), and robbed the company of time while writing this post, I'd better get back to work!

hmmmm, wonder what lunch will be today? ....I'm still hungry....

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily