A weird thing

So I've just got home from an event for the Dress for Success charity I am involved in. It was incredibly successful and my part of it (to drum up interest in a new fundraising/networking initiative we are launching in the Autumn) went well. But here's the thing, I had some great girls volunteering to help me and somehow I had become the person who in their eyes was 'kind of there'.. I mean to say there was a group of tres cool beautiful girls wanting to get their break in PR - aka fresh blood - willing to volunteer to get experience, make contacts and meet people. For so long I've been that eager enthusiastic person helping out and still think I am (albeit it less of the chic and trendy more of a keener!) and then tonight somehow I was the person who was 'there' -they were helping me promote an initiative I was working on, keen to help out in anyway and I got to talk with the grown ups! It sounds silly but it was a moment to mark for me anyway!

So that was one bright and beautiful moment of today - other highlights include talking to Ella ( i am going to babysit Fin on Saturday, can't wait!) chatting to my Mum and joining facebook - who knew it was so cool? I feel popular for the first time ever and have reconnected with my best friend from when I was 12 until about 16! She reminded me that I was the queen of writing notes and passing them to friend during lessons at school. Goodness knows what I used to write but I suppose this blog and facebook fullfils an equivalent role for me now!

Better go, I have no wireless connection with my laptop so I am in the living room with david's hockey kit that is 'airing' out. Airing out of smelly hockey gear for days, rather than hours = suffocate, depress and distress me! If only those volunteers girls knew I was coming home to an apartment filled with a musty hockey fragrance as well as socks, shin guards, gloves, skates and goodness knows what else laid out on the living room floor to 'air', I don't think they would think I was so cool then!! Anyway that's all to say I must relocate to the bedroom and I need to lay down some ground rules to save my sanity- 12 hours of overnight airing is all that is going to be permitted from now on. Surely that's fair?

Goodnight! xox

I'm back

Sorry for the absence - here are some of the reasons

Weird things going on with internet connection at home. I can't get online with our connection on my laptop and the neighbour upstairs isn't sharing her wireless connection consistently!

We've been on a mad house hunt that is taking up lots of time and energy. It is quite overwhelming. Lots to learn and lots to watch out for. Luckily I have David on my team - he stops me getting overwhelmed and overexcited and whips out an excel spreadsheet to make up formulas and all sorts of other clever things that I hope will help us get a good place.

I've been running. Yup! It's true. I did the 7 mile run I was preparing for in my last post and have since moved up to 9 miles. I also ran the Vancouver Sun Run 5 mins quicker than last year!

I've been sleeping and a bit low on energy. See above!

But anyway I am committed to this blog so to the two loyal readers I have out there thanks for staying with me!

More later.... xox

Nearly time

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you 'Are you going to be a wimp , or are you going to be strong today?" - Kick in the Butt #3.

It's 4.27pm - I've mapped out a 7 mile run for tonight followed by a 1 mile walk home. I've updated my playlist. I'll do my best to leave Wimpy Louise at home.

Wish me luck.

101 Kicks in the Butt

That's the title of an article in a copy of the Runners magazine I've just picked up from the hotel gym! I appreciate a good headline and with 27 days left until the Vancouver Half Marathon I am most definetely in need of 101 kicks in the butt!!! So, eagerly I turn to page 68 for my first kick and guess what it is???

1. "Start a blog - where you post your daily mileage and then give out the web address to your friends and family. Do you really want Aunt Ellen to ask why you skipped your four-miler on Wednesday"

Well it's rather uncanny that I have just started a blog isn't it?!!! Little did I know it would help to motivate me to run!!! So my apologies in advance if I become a bit of a running bore in the next 27 days but I think I will follow this advice and tell the world what I am going to run. I don't have an Aunt Ellen to reprimand me if I don't do it so some of you will have to take her place. I am all for some tough love - as long as it is compassionate tough love!

So today I ran 5 miles on the treadmill in the hotel gym. This is good because I am tired from not sleeping very well last night (weird anxiety about today's meetings), long meetings today and I managed to resist the allure of the Westin's "Heavenly Bed" which is indeed heavenly.

It's not so good because I had to run those 5 miles to burn off the Jelly Belly jelly beans I devoured from the mini bar (i love this hotel but that is extreme temptation to the point of cruelty - why not stock the room with fruit and yoghurts to prevent weak souls like me from giving in? Seriously???) Plus, I wish I could have done more than 5 miles. In 27 days I need to run 13.5 miles!!!!!! But negative thinking won't help here - I am proud of my 5 miles, I didn't stop and I worked in some sprints. I guess the idea of this Running Magazine using a blog as a "kick in the butt" is for you to all hold me accountable so here's the plan for the week:

Tues - 2 mile fast run after my meetings before I leave for the aiport
Weds - 7 mile run - I think from my house to Kits beach and back will do it but I will have to check it out
Thurs - Rest :-)
Fri - 3 mile tempo jog
Sat - Rest :-)
Sun - The Sun Run 6.5 miles

Including today's run that will give me a weekly mileage of 23.5. I think that's what I should be doing at this stage in the game. Any experts out there please advise.

I'll end with "kick in the butt # 59 - Remember you almost always feel better after a run than before it". Very true. I'll have to remind myself of that tomorrow. I'll report back.

Got to go.. 5 am mountain time start tomorrow. Yawn.

xox

A sunny sunday

I am now at the airport after another great day.

We had a lovely birthday breakfast for David - pancakes, fruit salad and coffee. I had to do a few hours work so David went out to help his David with a new fence they are building to keep the Deer out once the grapes are planted. We then had turkey left-overs for lunch and got to work on an egg hunt.

Thank you to David's family for humouring my new idea for an egg hunt. I picked up some small plastic eggs from the dollar store and instead of putting chocolates inside we put a slip of paper with a promise of something that we will do for each other! I did David's, he did mine, Len did Marion's, Marion did Lens and we each made one for Alice who made one for all of us. We then hid them outside and got to work finding them, along with chocolate eggs Marion had hidden. It was really good fun and now I have some lovely treats to look forward to from David - a day of cooking (breakfast lunch and dinner!!!), a massage, a promise to clean up his desk (aka "the disaster zone") and to make me some coffee his friend Travis brought back from Bali. Wow! There is a two month expiry date! Everyone did well - Len promised to wash cars, Marion to make special Urkrainian meals and David and I are going to take his grandma out for lunch and to the cinema!

David enjoyed his birthday I think! We have very different attitudes to birthdays. It isn't really a big deal to David. He likes having a birthday and always enjoys himself but it isn't the "Incredibly Special Occassion" that I like birthday's to be! We are starting to make our birthdays a good mix of how I like them to be and how David likes them to be. I set up a birthday table for David with balloons, banners and a gift display like I was always spoilt with when I was growing up and David helps to ensure it is a relaxed chilled out day - rather than ridiculously over planned and pressurized to be 'perfect' :-)

Happy Birthday David. You're the best.

I'll post pics of the birthday boy once I eventually find the connector cord for my camera. For now here is a picture of the view on the Kettle Valley Trail. I ran 5 miles along it yesterday - a good view helps to keep you running!

PS - If you'd like to see this view, we are looking for helping hands to help plant grapes for the May long weekend. It will be hard work but plenty of rewards in terms of sunshine, a beach 10 minutes away and lots of wine tasting. Leave a comment or email me if you are interested in joining us!

Happy Easter and Happy Birthday David!

We are in sunny Penticton for Easter this year celebrating with Marion, Len and Alice - David's parents and Grandma. It is heaven! The sun is shining and it feels so good to feel some sunshine on my skin. David has been working in the fields and is a million times happier than studying for CASB. I've been practising and learning some creative and domestic skills. Here are our decorated eggs - note my Easter Bunny! I also cooked a turkey yesterday for an early birthday dinner for David.
More blogging later when I am waiting at the airport in Kelowna to fly to Edmonton. Right now there is sunshine to soak up!
Happy Easter and Happy Birthday David!

You've made my day!

So I've just got home to find a parcel from the Easter Bunny for me (aka my mum). You've the best. And thank you for not believing me when I said I didn't want you to send any chocolate. I love it all - and the little hot cross buns are so lovely (they are minature and made of marizipan) how cool! Thank you so much.

PS - What's wrong with this picture? Can you guess?