Monday: Holiday Workout and Needlepoint Review

Holidays are hard for several reasons: They get me out of my routine, I sleep late, it's too hot to do the full outdoor component of the workout, and then I don't accomplish as much as I had intended. I really need 6AM accountability, and holiday weekends are just not conducive to anyone holding me accountable to a 6AM workout schedule. It's not that big of a deal, BUT I like my Monday swim and I kind of missed it today.

Holidays are great for several reasons also: I slept late, I made eggs and sausage and a monster fruit salad with coffee and tea, which I ate at my leisure while I perused the internet and watched a bit of the Today show. I took a nap. I watched ridiculous television while I worked out the kinks in my needlepoint project. I went for a run without my watch, just ran for the fun of it. I rode my bike for a negligible amount of time. Other than my work out, I didn't leave the house. I never got in my car. We ordered take out for dinner, and it was really a perfect day.

Anyway, about my needlepointing: Needlepoint is a sure thing. With my knitting, I have a one in four project success rate. Knitting projects do not always turn out well, based on gauge, weird patterns, and the fact that everyone knits a little tighter or looser means that not every project turns out looking like the fabulous picture of the project you selected. My last knitting project was a great tragedy that has left me with no choice but to distance myself a bit from the craft.

Sewing is the same way. Patterns are notoriously difficult to follow, my machine is not great, and there are MANY variables that mean that your project may never turn out correctly.

Needlepoint, however, is a sure thing. I think it is a sure thing, because, as a general rule, the canvas is uniform, and you are following a pattern stamped on a canvas, and your stitches are always the same, sometime they are variations, but basically the same.

I currently have three of my grandmother's unfinished needlepoints, which I am going to finish. They are quick and thoughtless and easy to do while I fritter away time in front of the television. Now, my grandmother used penelope canvasses, which are slightly different from the starched stiff canvasses that are used today. They are looser and bendable and lend themselves to some shifting about of stitches and holes. I had to run by the local needlepoint establishment (Nashville Needleworks), and get a bit of help in terms of which holes to use, since it was my first time with a penelope canvas, but now I know.

Anyway, pics of my past needlepoint projects, and my current one, the stocking!! Track workout tomorrow at 6AM.

Sunday: The Fourth of July; A Day Off

So last night, Ivan slept with us again. It was better sleep all around, but I MUCH prefer I baby in his own bed. So, tonight we will be back to our usual sleep situation, and I am pretty pleased.

I had breakfast with my sister and her husband, and then lunch with my parents, before getting ready to go to a grown up party at our neighbors' house. Now, I am always so excited to go to a grown up party, but I have only had one successful grown up party since Ivan was born. Not that my deep and grating lack of sophistication is his fault, it just seems that I have less time to research my venues and less time to make sure that my whole wardrobe situation is suited to the event. Anyway, I was pretty sure that I today would be successful. I had a super cute outfit, and I made a minted fruit salad, so I felt like I was on it.

However, as soon as we got there, I understood that it was a pool party and not a stand around party, so I had to send my husband off for my bathing suit. I wore make up, when maybe that wasn't necessary and then to cap off the misery, one of my fake toenails came off while we were standing around the pool. It was tragic. Maybe I am not made for grown up parties. Maybe real grown ups get real pedicures and don't have to send their husbands for their bathing suits.

It is hard not to be cool.

Saturday: A Great Run

We have had house guests, and last night Ivan slept in bed with us. I cannot say it was the best night's sleep I have gotten this year, but I did sleep. I was up at 5:15 AM, to meet my friend Dru to run. Our run ended up including Tammy, Karen and Avril, we ran about 10 miles (I am having some sort of Garmin issue so I can't map the course for you, but I am working on it). It was maybe the most pleasant run I have had in a long time and I am thoroughly hoping that we can all make it our Saturday morning thing. We started at 6:00 AM and ran until around 7:30ish. We had great conversations about books and hair and the World Cup. It really was the most fun I've had in a long time. For sure, I will be badgering all of today's participants to join me every Saturday, except for next Saturday when I am in Birmingham for my nephew's christening.

When I returned to the house, I made a eggs and a big pot of steel cut oats for breakfast and a big pot of coffee. After breakfast, I devoted myself to my needlepoint project, which I play to mention more about on my next day off. I read my one year Bible, as I am still keeping up with my New Year's resolution and I have to say, the Old Testament is less that cheerful currently. Also, I completely cleaned out Ivan's drawers.

My big accomplishment this evening, was the delicious dinner I made. I successfully accomplished several things:

1. a savory poached salmon which I served cold
2. french green beans; flash boiled and then dunked in an ice bath. They were served cold with Nicoise dressing
3. roasted brussel sprouts, which tasted like crunchy little potatoes

Very healthy!!

Friday: Swim and Pure Barre

So today, I got to swim early and managed to get in 4200 meters or 4500 yards or 2.6 miles. Nick was there and he always inspires me to stay with the workout and I decided to stay a little over time to get in the whole workout. This made me 15 minutes late to the nursery, and I received a small harshing from Ms. Glinda. Anyway, workout as follows:

• 200 warmup
• 4 x 100 IM
• 8 x 50 drill/ swim
• 600 pull
• 8 x 50 drill/ swim
• 4 x 50 fast/ easy
• 2 x 400
• 4 x 50
• 3 x 200 swim @ 3:40
• 4 x 50 trying to breath only once per 50 (I tried this on the first 50 before giving up)
• 200 cool down

It was a great workout. I also told Steven all about my upcoming race and he is going to help me plan my long swim planning for the race in September. At home, I spent a long hour taking the bed that spent last night in the foyer to its various holding places in my short-on-storage house. The mattresses are wedged behind the wardrobe in my bedroom. The headboards are behind the wardrobe in Ivan's bedroom and the side braces are under my bed. The slats are spending the night on the front porch.

I then called around Chicago, trying to work out hotels and what not. I think we are going to stay at the W hotel. I have to say that I am loving the discounted rates you are allowed at luxury hotels when you are in for an athletic event. I mean, our hotel in Boston (Boston Marathon) was FABULOUS!!!! I have rarely been happier in a rented room. And now, because we are in for a swim, WE GET TO STAY AT THE W. I am becoming more and more interested in the Paris marathon, just because we could stay at the Paris Ritz for HALF-PRICE through Marathon Tours. Running a marathon is a small price to pay for the Paris Ritz.

After my travel research, I got in a Pure Barre session with my new video. Now, I don't think that the video was as difficult as the class, per say, but the ab work was great and I may do it again tomorrow.

Had a kid free dinner date. I am using a new shampoo which I will tell you about later, but my hair looked fabulous!!!!

Pic of my open water swim course at the lake in Georgia!!

Book Report: The Girl Who Played With Fire By Stieg Larsson

Ok, I think I said, when I reviewed the first of the books in this trilogy, that you pretty much have to read these books if you plan to remain relevant in our society. They are the thing. Everyone is reading them. EVERYONE. It is a Swedish series, and the Swedes have made a corresponding movie series which is only playing at the Belcourt in Nashville. Supposedly, Daniel Craig and Carey Mulligan are going to be in the American version of the series, and I could honestly discuss it for hours.

Now in the first book, Mikael Blomkvist ( journalist at a the cutting edge business publication, Millenium) is coerced into solving a mystery about a disappearance on a family compound. Mikael Blomkvist ends up engaging Lisbeth Salander and her particular skill set to solve the mystery. It is a surprising mystery with many twists and surprising turns. The mystery was very unique, and I feel the Lisbeth Salander, with her waify looks, tattoos, government labeled as mentally disabled is a really novel character. She is strong, yet Larrson allows you to see her insecurities as well.

Anyway, in book two, Lisbeth has broken all ties with Blomkvist. Blomkvist does not know why, and Lisbeth has chosen to disappear rather than communicate with him. HOWEVER, their lives become intertwined when two individuals working on a story for Millenium are murdered in their home. At the same time a third victim is found murdered in his home. This victim has close ties to Lisbeth Salander, and the three murders are quickly linked to her. Blomkvist is certain she is innocent, and the two try to solve the mystery while Lisbeth is in hiding. They communicate only through cryptic emails and again manage to solve a seemingly impossible mystery that involves a tall giant with a disorder that makes him oblivious to physical pain.

Doesn't that sound exciting?? The most exciting thing you have ever heard?? Are you going to run right out and get the book??

Thursday: A Day Off and a Race Update

I am really holding to my Thursdays are my off days thing. I didn't do anything but a myriad of phone errands, paperwork and furniture moving. I actually have a disassembled bed in foyer as we speak. And maybe, through sad yet interesting circumstances, I have acquired four beds in the last few months. AND, maybe our home only has two bedrooms AND maybe there is already a bed in each of those rooms. And maybe my furniture holdings seem a bit bed heavy, but I won't bore you with that. I'm not even sure how it happened. It just happened so fast.

Anyway, I am registered for the Music City Triathlon on July 25th and the Big Shoulders 5k swim in Chicago on September 11th. Now, confession, my bike situation is bleak. I am never on the bike, and I actually do not want to be on the bike ever. It's hot, and I'm not good at it. It's hard to find the time, and because I am not good at it, I put off finding the time. My bike is sitting on the trainer in the living room, and I feel it is eyeing me in disgust while I type.

Confession: The last time I was on the bike was the day of the Kentucky Derby. It's the truth.

Wednesday: Run, Swim and I meant to do a Pure Barre Video, but I took a nap

Ivan was up and at 'em this morning at 5:30 AM. I was planning on having the opportunity to sleep slightly later since, I was up brutally early yesterday and was up a little later than was necessary last night. Also, I am harboring residual tiredness from a week of vacationing with a two-year-old. The wake up call was brutal.

It was so brutal that I felt like I was staggering around. I lost count of the scoops of coffee as I was putting them in the coffee maker and it took me an inordinate amount of time to locate the remote and turn on The Wiggles for Ivan. All my pistons weren't firing.

I went for a run, to try and jog my mind into working right. I had a huge smoothie for breakfast, two cups of green tea and a cup of coffee and was still feeling so out of it that I showed up at swim in my old Dansko clogs that I wear around the house for the arch support. It looked pretty ridiculous to have on the clogs with my bathing suit, and I had forgotten to bring a spare bathing suit for Ivan's swim lesson, so I had to wear my wet bathing suit and my huge clogs and towel to Ivan's swim lesson. This is me without sleep: a bikini, clogs and a wet towel. When I got to the nursery to pick Ivan up, he had wet through his little clothes and he was wearing a diaper and his shoes, so we walked out together, hand in hand, IN PUBLIC, with me in my clogs, bikini and towel and Ivan in a diaper.

Anyway, swim workout was great!!! We swam 3100 meters or 3300 yards:

• 400 swim
• 200 kick
• 3 x 100 IM
• 300 pull
• 3 x 200 swim
• 300 pull
• 6 x 50 (fast/slow)
• 300 pull
• 400 kick

So, this was a great workout, and I headed home after Ivan's swim practice, before taking the best nap ever. I rarely get to nap, BUT if I do get to nap, it is in the summer.