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Well, yesterday was an far more of a marathon than a simple 12k for me. For starters, since we had no idea when to get there and what might be happening, we got there WAY too early. Mea Culpa. Unfortunately, this little ‘oops’ had us standing around from 9:15 to nearly 11. Which wouldn’t have been so bad had it been a nice, warm, sunny day. What with the wind off the ocean, it would have been lovely. But it was sprinkling and then raining and it turned that cool ocean breeze into something less than nice and made us all soggy and most people were huddling under trees in the lead-up to the start.
Let me tell you something about the start of a race. Unless you are in the front line (and deserve to be there), you feel akin to cattle being being herded. Sadly, there is little you can do to combat this feeling because it seems to be all pervasive. A man next to me at one point remarked about everyone pushing to get into the chute being silly because the race was chip timed. This would have been a wise comment if he himself hadn’t been pushing/being pushed. (Chip timed means that you have this little tag that starts “your” time as soon as you cross a special mat and stop it the same way. You can be the last one to cross (either way) and still be the fastest runner based on time.) Either way, everyone starts leaning on you right from the word “Go” and thus starts the press of thundering bodies.
So I ran. And Ran. For 7.5 miles according to my Garmin. M and Sisu saw me off at the beginning with Sisu pouting that I wasn’t taking her with me. And then I started seeing people from work! C was timing at mile 1 or 2, D was at 6 and (a different) D and M were at 7! I saw a tenant, B running with one of my work friends, M, saw co-worker S at the end and had seen former co-worker B at the very beginning. I missed seeing another former co-worker, also an S, there but I hope she was!
Back to the race…Once I started moving faster I started warming up and I was so grateful for that. After the first mile I wasn’t questioning my wearing a running skirt instead of capri or running pants and I was certainly glad that I didn’t have my wool shirt like I had wanted 10 minutes before. That first mile was a lovely mess of dodging strollers, walkers and people who obviously weren’t paying attention to where they lined up (according to the mph markers at the beginning) and small children. It made me smile, laugh and joke with new comrades in racing and forget that, for me, the first mile is always the hellish one. Once I get through that point of wanting to die and thinking, “Oh dear God, Why did you let me think that I could do this insane thing?”, running, especially race running, is fun for me. The best part of racing is that the first mile goes faster than I think it does and then I’m into it and there is no turning back.
And then the hill starts. I say “Hill” and it is one but it is also a mile+ long steady climb that really tests your will to live. I got lucky on this hill and was positioned near a woman and her friend who was also her running coach. They ran/walked it and it was there pacing and breaks that got me through it. We played pushme-pullyou nearly all the way up and then I passed them on a flat and didn’t see them again.
And then there is a downhill that makes you grateful for the uphill until your knees start to ache followed by rolling hills that keep you hoping for the next downhill. Lucky for me, I found a partner for this time who was wearing a lovely teal blue shirt who kept giving words of encouragement to me as I gave him walk points to shoot for. We worked as a great team for those hills, him saying he needed a break, me saying, once we hit that second pole, him saying OK and then saying run at the next mailbox…I wish I could remember his bib number so I could see how he did. Once we hit a flat part his better speed on flats kicked in and he pulled ahead. However, as he moved off, I got a new partner, a woman in a green jacket (despite the increase in temp, decrease of wind and ceasing of rain) who wanted someone to pace with like I did. I have no idea who she was but I know that we laughed at the guy who had already finished and was running the other way and said that he must be doing a 24k. We went nearly the last 2 miles together and then she caught up with a friend and joined them for the last. And then, in the last half mile, I had M cheering for me right before the final turns and a gentleman in a green t-shirt running next to me telling me that I totally could do this and I remembered that I COULD do it and that, being within sight of the end, I totally HAD done it and so I pushed hard and finished with a smile on my face.
Bib # age sex overall/2141 – age group – Gender/1278
| 284 | SisuGirl | 30 | F | F 30-34 | Port Townsend | WA | 956 | 58/134 | 436 | 1:22:11 | 11:02 |
I did it. I was done AND I had done it in less time than I wanted to. When I first started training I was aiming for 1:15. Then life got in the way and I downshifted to expecting a 1:30. Then the race started and hearing my splits made me think that I could be faster because I already was faster than I expected.
I was so glad to be done because it was the furthest that I’ve raced to date and I, forgive me, was so impressed with myself. It is so awesome to know that I can run like this.
So I moved through the gates, got my awesome t-shirt, some water, a banana and orange slice and walked about to cool off and then M took me home to shower and relax. By this time, it was 1pm. I felt so very done with the day and wanted to just relax.
Not possible.
I left for work at 1:45 and worked until 10pm.
Then I came home and slept.
Worn out to the core.
A very good day.
*deep breath*
It is amazing to me how slowly time can go in the morning.
Today, I was rudely awoken at 630 and while it wasn’t dark (far from it, there were sunbeams!), it was still only 6 and a half hours from when I put my book down and I closed my eyes. As the cat clawed at my arms, I pushed her off, saw the clock and thought, ‘just half hour more’…and then the attacked my toes and all thoughts of sleeping went right out the window. I got up, showered, dressed, pin curled my hair and took a seat to review my plan of action for the day. Had some coffee and just as my coffee is getting cold, I looked at the clock. 8am. Really? When I have to get ready for work the times flies by! When I’m at work the evening races and when I get home it seems like its only a few minutes before its 1am and I finally feel like I could sleep. But mornings…they are special to me. I hear the birds singing, I feel the earth warming up, I can see the sun filtering through the trees…it is just this special time for me and I really love mornings in general. Granted, in the recent past I was sleeping until 9 or 10 so it wasnt so much “morning” anymore but just in this past week or so I have been making more of an effort to get up and get going by 8 and in the last few days I’ve been up closer to 7.
Why?
Because the insane part of me forgot how classes can add up on you if you aren’t paying attention and decided to take not 1, not 2 but 3 classes this 11 week term in addition to working full time. That is 14 credits; a full-time student. Not only do those classes meet online and have extensive “discussions” but two of them (Anatomy and Physiology 2 and Microbiology) have in-person labs which mean 6 Saturdays, 1 per month per class, I get to spend in Renton, a 2+ hour drive for a 4 hour lab. Did I mention that one of those begins at 8am? Not looking forward to that one so much because of the freakishly early start time for my driving, especially since I highly doubt that M will want to go to that one with me. He is coming with me today though for my first day of lab and for that I am very grateful.
So here I am. Trying to manage my time well to get in classes and work and Oh, did I mention that I’m supposed to be training for three races? Yeah, the first one is on May 20th and I am far from ready. My schedule for this upcoming month is going to be packed with the addition of focused running so I don’t A) Hurt myself and/or B) make a fool of myself come the 20th.
Oh wait…did I mention that I am still trying to knit and spin to save my sanity? Yup, there is still a lot of both going on in Chez Sisu, especially now since I bought the wheel of my dreams. She is a Schacht Matchless and is everything that I could have ever wanted. There will be photos of her to come, along with a review.
All in all, I am so very happy with my busy-ness and actually am getting more done. I focus my time and effort on one thing at a time and it all gets done and I’m happy with the results. I still do some things via multi-tasking. I listen and watch A&P lectures while I spin, pausing to take notes every once in a while. I knit mindlessly while reading texts. I take my texts to work with me and read during my dinner break (not while knitting too, just reading). I set dinner to cook while participating in online discussions. The one thing that I can’t multi-task is the running…which is a good thing. With so much else going on, I think that I need that one task that takes me away from it all. But I’ll have to get back to you on that…I haven’t run in over a week now simply because it was not something I could multi-task!
Instead of launching into a mass of reasons why I haven’t posted, what has been going on with me and my general life status; it should suffice to say that I have been floundering in an ocean of depression, have taken many mouthfuls of brackish water, dodged the flotsam and jetsam of plans, saved all the wool, planted a long awaited garden and finally, finally learnt to swim again.
The Wool:
A trio of socks; blue for me, boy colours for the boy.
A shawl. More specifically The Jubilee Year Shawl
…which I am calling “Happiness” both because it is making me very happy to use this skein of Noro Kureyon Sock yarn (188) which I have had in my stash since 2008 or so and happy because I finally feel like I have found the true calling for this yarn. It has tried to be socks and mittens and a hat and none of those things looked…right. And then I found this pattern purely by chance and it is perfect.
What you aren’t seeing in this wool section is something that is done and gone and I, being the forgetful Auntie that I am, forgot to take photos of said items first. I made my new nephew (RGB) 12 single socks from KP’s Imagination and then knit him blanket squared with the remaining 22g of the skein. Actually, what I did was a bit more complicated than that…I wound each 50g skein into a ball, knit a single baby sock using my standard baby sock pattern, weighed the remaining and split it into 2 22g balls. I then used 22g to knit RGB’s baby blanket. 
What you see here is the second 22g knit into mitered squares with a bundle left over on top. As I finish this project, I’ll give you more details on it but the general plan is that this will be joined by 12 more colours (24 total), yes, I know you only see 7 here but the other yarn isn’t squared yet, and become a blanket and more baby socks.
Also in Wool is the beautiful Intentions yarn that I have been spinning and thinking through. This project became so much more than I thought it would and while life got in the way and derailed my plans for doing the project in a year, I am so happy to still be working through it.
This is Patience and is perfect for the lesson that I am learning. Thats part of what makes me love my Intentions project. Though it is nothing like I planned, it is exactly what I needed and has been fitting into my life exactly as I needed it.
The Garden:
6 years ago, I made a plan. I wanted a herb garden in a strawberry pot. I knew I wanted rosemary on top, cilantro (coriander), dill, thyme, marjoram, oregano, chives and sage, all the herbs I love to use, in the pockets. The only problem was that I was living remotely and the getting of said pot, herbs and soil was an insurmountable challenge due to cost and logistics. Since then I haven’t lived long enough in a big enough town to have my dreamed of herb garden.
Until now.
I can not tell you how happy it makes me to have this wee garden. Something that I have wanted for ages is finally mine and just the thought of it makes me smile. And salivate because I can’t wait to use the herbs along the way.
I also planted Orange mint and Spearmint with a Chamomile between them:
And two of a crazy plant that I couldn’t resist because of my love of and for them:
Artichokes.
Swimming:
In other parts of life, I have gotten back into running almost by force. I say “force” but what I really mean is that I registered for the Rhody run (12k) on May 20th, the Seattle 10k at the end of August (again) AND the Seattle Half Marathon the Sunday after Thanksgiving and if I don’t “get back into running” then the registration monies go down the toilet and I embarrass myself when I try to complete any or all of these events. So running it is and I feel great doing it. Makes me wonder why I was foolish to ever let myself stop.
In all parts of life…I feel like I am…getting there.
Emotionally. Physically. Mentally.
I’m not quite sure where “there” is but, as always,
“It is the Journey, Not the Destination”.
I am getting back on “a schedule” and am LOVING IT! Not only does my day have a rhythm again focused by work but that means that my crafting life can merge too. While I am still in the early stages of scheduling, there is a smoothness that I really, really enjoy. Let me catch you up on what I’ve been doing:
There is a “guest room” that is in shambles
and will be tidied tomorrow on my day off 
I had a hard time at Jo-Annes on Saturday…learning what size of fabric could work and what couldn’t but I finally came away with
patterns
and fabric for PJ trousers for Mike 
and I 
and fabric for skirts…
and for a jumper 
Just let me tell you how excited I am about getting into these….VERY. I finally live in a place where I can wear skirts and my oh so comfortable heels on a regular basis and not worry about sand and wind and now, all I have to wait for is an iron and then I can get started in making some very nice new skirts to wear!
The sewing machine hasn’t been idle though…First up was a duvet cover that I did when making sure that the machine worked. 
It would be folded but needs to be washed because I am pretty sure that the sheets were last washed in Tide and I do NOT want a full body allergic reaction…my hands were itchy enough.
I had planned to hand stitch a small market bag from leftover tulle and old ribbon at the end of June but, after a few failed attempts due to darn slippery tulle, put it aside until last Saturday when it finally became this:
Sorry for the overexposure but you can see the flower edging there around the bag and the handle too. I also, while sorting thru the odds and ends I rescued from dry-rotting away, I found a cut out (what I though) leg to cotton trousers. Since I can’t wear just one leg of trousers with the blinds up, I thought that I would just lay the fabric on the remains to use as a pattern and just make another and then sew them up…and I did : 
and then I talked to my mum and found out that PJ patterns are Fronts and Backs, not just legs…so the excess fabric in the front of my new trousers isn’t because I mis-sewed, it’s because I don’t have a rear on my front. Go figure. I’ll wear them regardless because a) they are my first adult garment and b) I like the stamp fabric. 
On the spinning front, I have been happily plying Intentions and I’ll have a few of those in specific posts. I am still working on them and still loving them and I’ll update you all ASAP.
On the knitting front, I finished the top for E
and, despite thinking that it would be ribbing hell, it wasn’t that bad. I knit mindlessly while watching Season 7 of Greys Anatomy, which is my form of TV crack, and finished it yesterday. I’m going to see E on Friday and we’ll see if it fits. If so, YAY! If not, well, its a good thing that she has a little brother, C! Yes, it does look small and skinny but remember, ribbing stretches and what gets wider also gets shorter so it needs to be oddly long so it fits.
Since finishing, I began a Karin Kurbits hat (that is Johanne, the designers, blog and photos) (Rav link) (Loopy Ewe Link) in Spud and Chloe in “Popcorn” which is nearly white but just this side of cream and Noro Kureyon Sock in 188 which is gorgeous purple and green, both of which I bought at The Loopy Ewe from the fabulous Sheri. 
I love colourwork and can’t wait to get thru this ribbing and onto the stranding. I’m using my Kollage square 2.25mms to rib and think that I’ll switch to my KP’s 1.5′s (2.5mm) to do the colourwork but as the hat is ‘slouchy’, I may stay with the smaller needles to make it less slouchy and more of a fitted hat but we’ll see!
Thats all for now as I’m off to make lunch. One of the biggest changes in my life is that lunch has become the biggest meal of the day since I am working from 2pm-10pm but I’m enjoying that change.
TTFN!
I love how things in my life go in cycles. Yes, I understand that that is the way of things but aren’t you too surprised and excited when it actually happens like that? We get all happy with fall colours and equally so with snow falling out the window, long hot days and spring crocuses; get excited to start grilling with the longer days and start making more soup with the shorter ones; celebrate 1st and 50th birthdays with vim and vigor…and so the cycles go.
Just recently I’ve been in the cycle of Old and New. Being here in PT has been a “new” cycle but being with family as they explored here for the first time made me realise that I already am seeing the town with “old” eyes. Not that there isn’t more to explore or that I’m not still finding the “new” on a daily basis…just that I recognise and remember ‘that shop’ and ‘those things’ and that I’m not seeing them for the first time anymore. Part of me is sad for that and the routine part of me is rejoicing. Rhythm is my life, (Name that movie if you can!) and I embrace it at all times…especially with my knitting I’ve got a lot of projects going on and on going so hold onto your hats and take a look at the old and new!
Old: 
This WAS going to be a pair of socks for Mike. I’m just not feeling it, both the pink and the teeny needles (0′s/2mm) and 84sts around so into the frog pond it went and right back out again into…
New:
The Non Stop Top for my eldest niece, E. Size 4 needles, pink and black yarn and becoming a top she can wear nearly all year round here in WA and for at least a year because ribbing is so stretchy. The masochism of miles of ribbing isn’t lost on me by any means…especially when I consider that I want to make at least 3 more for 2 nephews and one undetermined due at the end of February (my sisters #2) It just means that a) I REALLY love these kinder and b) I’m going to get very speedy at ribbing.
Old:
New: DONE!
Old:
New: Started and about 1″ past the cuff…and then I realised why the cuff ribbing looked so loose on the first when compared to the second and why the striping looked backwards. The striping was backwards…because I knit the first TOE UP and I started the second cuff down. 2″ into the sock, I don’t care that much and since the socks were to be fraternal anyway (I’m not picky enough to match stripes), this would be just fine. They are my purse socks now and I want them done since its getting colder here.
Old:
Um, so this would be the argument for knitting socks toe-up and two at a time when using a new-to-you brand of yarn and knitting for large footed persons.
New/Old:
A hybrid of new and old…I had enough Opal in 6ply that matched in weight that it would work and I am knitting as fast as I can to try and get this last pair done for tomorrow for Mikes Birthday.
Old:
Fun fur was all the rage back in the late 90′s and I distinctly remember trying to knit with it and HATING every moment of that scarf…which has been, thankfully, misplaced.
New:
Can you tell what this will be?
How about now?
Its a hedgehog hot water bottle cover of my own design! He will have button eyes and a cute brown nose and I am so excited that I made this. Again, its kind of a blend of old and new…I’ve had hot water bottles for as long as I can remember and while some have been ‘naked’, there have been some very cute sheep covers, last years platypus and now, the hedgie! The other old part was that I still didn’t like knitting with the fun fur but the effect was well worth the cursing.
Old:
An ivory crochet hook that I was given. It feels very warm and slightly heavy to work with but I really love its simplicity and beauty…so much so…
New:
…that I found a set at Goodwill…
Old:
…and started a project to make a simple striped blanket in pretty colours…
New: …but I also started a project using something unique that I have wanted to try for a long time…
…plarn. Plastic bags cut into strips and then using the strips as the medium to crochet with. I am making a bag with my bags
New/Old: I don’t think that there will be much more crochet in my future after this. Its not as fun to me as knitting and like I said back in Feb 2010, its just not the craft for me. I learned how to do it because a patient asked for help in reading crochet patterns. I said that I could help her but figured that it would be easier to help if I knew the motions that were being asked for so I got a book and learned…and I’ll stick with my needles.
New: And speaking of needles…yesterday I went to Port Angeles to buy the second skein of Fun Fur for the hedgehog and also to buy a wireless router. You can see from the above that I found the Fun Fur but I also found the router: 
and drove home, stopping at Goodwill on the way because I wanted to find a bookshelf for the apartment. No dice on the bookshelf, however, I did find this:
Old: 
6oz of pencil drafted roving to spin. From the hand and the staple, I’m thinking Icelandic wool. I’ve never spun it so we’ll see how it goes but I think the colours will blend really nicely!
And then there was also this:
A late 1950′s/early 60′s Sears Kenmore sewing machine with all the stitch die. Found on Ebay ranging from $30-150 usd. Bought at Goodwill in perfect working order: $10
New: The birth of a new hobby. You saw it here first!
I distinctly remember when my mum would use this tone of voice (in the title) on me. Part curious, part scared to find out, part expecting greatness, part expecting disaster…its amazing all the ‘parts’ that can make up our tone of voice, isn’t it? I feel like I need to do, well, more than a bit of catching up with you, my gentle reader, so here it comes!
#1: Training
There have been a few types of training in my life over the last few weeks.
a) Running: I have been doing a great deal of running, most important for me was the Seattle Marathon 10k that I ran on 8/27, the Saturday before my 30th year ending. I ran it in 1:02 and for me, that was a HUGE accomplishment. 
I have plans to run 15k of the Point Defiance 50k (1 loop of the trail) in October and the hills around PT will really help me train successfully for that.
b) Certified Nurses Aide: The second kind of training has been as a CNA. Sadly none of my Health Aide training means squat here in WA except as experience so, to be seen as a functional member of the health care team, I had some training to do…6 weeks of it I worked at a nursing home/rehab center and learned the ins and outs of providing basic care for someone and I have to tell you, it was both challenging and highly rewarding. It was harder for me to work with the elderly patients with demetia than it has been to work with anyone else and I’ll tell you why:
They have lead full lives and had a myriad of experiences that they can’t easily share with anyone and are slowly becoming prisoners of their own mind. With children there is the potential for the future but nothing says that they won’t be the next serial killer vs Nobel Prize winner. With these patients/residents…wow…there is so much there…so much that they want to share but there is this block that is frustrating to them because it spoils EVERYTHING and takes away from who they are and reduces them to someone they don’t really recognise but feel that they should and…
Well, you get the picture…it was hard for me. Rewarding but hard work. Not difficult by any means, but hard nonetheless. Graduation was on Friday and I’m registered to take the state test in November in Port Angeles.
#2: Moving
I swear, I need to buy my Mum a new address book with replaceable tabs because she must be running out of “C” pages because of me. Maybe this one?
Anyway, after interviewing for a job, Mike and I decided that whether or not we got THAT job, we were moving to Port Townsend. As we turned onto WA-20 at Discovery Bay we both felt immediately like we had found THE place we wanted to be. Lucky for us, we got the job and are managing a 24 unit apartment complex on the outskirts of PT. Lucky for me, the apartments are 2 blocks from the hospital (which is hiring CNA’s) and there are multiple assisted living/retirement/rehab centers within a 6 block radius (also hiring CNA’s). See the hospital?
This was taken with me standing in the road directly in front of our apartment. That would be Whitby Island in the background. We are finally here full time after 2 weeks of backing and forthing of me finishing training and Mike splitting time working up here and being down in Hoquiam to pick me up with a nights sleep between the 3 hour drives, complete with hauling 2 truck loads of our stuff. Sisu helped with the driving.
We have furnished the house with nearly all secondhand stuffs, the bed being the exception, and I’ve got to say that I love it all. Some of it, the couch notably, is an interesting blend of old and shocking and awesome craft-womanship. 
Mikes Grandma made the cover that you see and the original is a rose pink boucle with silver strands woven in. I think we’ll stick with this blue flower for now but its possible that the pink will come out!!
#3: Exploring!
I cannot begin to give you an accurate picture of all the goings on around here but I will tell you that we have been to the farmers market twice (Saturdays from 9-2) and this past weekend went to the Wooden Boat Festival. 
We had a blast looking at all the boats and imagining what our life would be like sailing about and how we could make it a future for ourselves. No definitive plans as yet but I’ll keep you posted
One of the most random and fun things that I found around here was that people grow an interesting plant for its flower. Can you ID this plant? 
Hint: I nearly choked on my gum when I saw it.
#4: Waiting
Today was all about the waiting. My mum told me that she had send a box to my FedEx and since this is a new place to me and I’m not quite sure when the post or packages come, I wanted to wait and be sure to be here for the delivery and boy, am I glad I was!
Colin helped with the decorating of the box but it was the goodies inside that are really priceless!
A lot of my favourite things (Sour Cherry Blasters, Bovril, candles, books and cute undies), some photo cards that I had fogotten I bought YEARS ago in Canada, a Tech-Tee from Jinny and (Not pictured because I’m a twit who forgot to get the photo) a HUGE Hedgehog stuffed animal like this one 
Mine is cuter though AND came wrapped in an IKEA hedgehog blanket that I thought that I had lost or given away years ago. I’m so glad that I was wrong and I couldn’t have been happier with my gifts. Thanks a million times over to Mum, Jinny, John and Colin for my amazing gift!
#5 Crafting
Well, this is going to have to wait until the next post, mainly because I have yet to take photos of everything I’ve been working (and not working) on lately.
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“The Last Half Birthday” By Carrie Dahlby My half birthday is here In six months is the 30th I’m gonna be a pink princess, sequinned and pearled in the next six months I’m gonna bungee jump off the Eiffel Tower in the next six months My last half birthday won’t be perfect Now I’ll do all I’ve ever wanted And I’ll never admit my age again! So I will drive a pink VW Beetle in the next six months My 30th birthday is like Death Day
I wish I had remembered to start this earlier. Now I only have 8 days!!!! (I first heard this song on Lime ‘N Violet Episode 48 but thats no longer available…You can listen to a sample of the song HERE or you can download it from iTunes. I HIGHLY suggest the latter!) |
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Where Oh Where does the time go?
I had intended to write about…oh, so many things…Like:
How my tattoo has meaning for me. The 6 stars are for the 60lbs I’ve lost forever with the teal being me and the pink being Melinda, my best buddy in Nelson Lagoon, who worked and ran with me and lost nearly 40 herself! We totally did it together and it is a perfect reminder. No, I will not have any removed if I gain weight…for starters because I have a lower goal in mind and want to add at least 1, maybe 2 more stars.
How I was very excited for the Pasta Dash on Saturday…but its a good thing that I didn’t write about it then because I would have had to write a “I’m so silly” post because it wasn’t held on Saturday the 6th, it is later on today, Saturday the 13th. Duh. Which gave me an extra week to train but also an extra week to fret about it…and I am. Not that I don’t think that I can do it….at least, not really…its more about this being my FIRST race. My first real run with a crowd of people, many of whom will be faster than me, and I will be amongst them trying not to get stepped on or in the way and just running my own race and trying not to get lost or go out too fast. Because I know that I am only racing against myself and only getting a number from it all…my baseline for future races…which I am already signed up for The Seattle Marathon 10k is on 8/27 and the Seattle Iron Girl 10k is on 9/11 AND the Pt Defiance 50K is on 10/15 and then there is also the Seattle Marathon on 11/27 Oh yes, my race card is filling up and I love every mile of it. Running is a challenge and a push and I love the way it makes me feel from start to finish. I can’t wait to see where it takes me.
How I am so involved with my new training course that between that learning and the running, I am so tired every night that I’m going to bed early and sleeping hard. I really enjoy learning how to be a CNA (Certified Nurses Aide) and think that its a great step to future employment and further education. I have 2 weeks of clinical rotation coming up and am very excited to get on the floor and get practicing for real. Also in the “training course” mode, my own studies to become a Personal Trainer are going really well too. Most of it is common sense so I am focusing on the biomechanics at the moment and thanking heaven for my Physiology classes because I know the muscles and this is more review not learning!
How all of a sudden I am realising that I have less than 2 weeks to spin 24 ounces of fiber in a thoughtful manner. Um, No. There is no possible way that I can be thoughtful and insightful and reflexive with a deadline such as that. How I was starting to feel like a major failure that I hadn’t accomplished my goal and I had a whole year to do it, what was wrong with me that I couldn’t even see through this one little project, should I even be thinking about starting another project because, obviously, I can’t seem to see even a simple one thru to the end and I am certainly not getting a Matchless for my birthday because I haven’t spent any time at my wheel in the past few weeks…
And then I remembered to breath and that my Intentions project is an INTENTION, my determination to act in a specific way, to think in a specific way, and I realised that I AM doing just that and I HAVE been doing it, just not while in front of my wheel. I still have Creative Inspiration to be spun but there is less than an ounce left and it was the inspiration for creativity that has gotten me out and away from the wheel in the first place! I wanted to be creative and see where my body would take me. I wanted to be creative and see where my mind and passions would take me…so I put those wants into actions and am doing the above.
And then I realised that all of the stress that I was giving myself was not really about my Intentions deadline at all…it was about my birthday. I felt such dread on the first that I avoided the computer all together just so I wouldnt have to write a post about there being only 28 days left. I have hidden behind “training”, both work and physical, to an extreme that I have just enough energy to get up, run, go to class, come home and make dinner and sit for an hour afterwards (I slept 11 hours on Wednesday night FPS!), so I can avoid blogging. I have resisted looking at my 101 in 1001 list just because I don’t want to see the list of things that I wrote for myself, despite knowing that a LOT of those things were unreasonably written due to time, moving and just plain lack of interest. I have resisted talking about “birthday plans” with M because I feel like I have accomplished nothing in the past 30 years.
And then, I realise how silly I sound. How I am making a big deal out of something very small and that, while 30 is a big birthday, it is only a number. I feel so much better at nearly 30 than I did at nearly 15, 20, 25 or even 28. That while I don’t have the life I imagined I would laying on my bed as a naive teenager/20-something, I have one that is filled with a hell of a lot more adventures and excitement (including the ‘boring’ knitting/spinning bits!). That I am happier with who I am than ever before. That I am happier with where I have been than I ever thought I would be. That I am happier with my outlook for the future, foggy though it may be, than ever before.
How I have to keep reminding myself of that last paragraph over and over because I am nothing if not tenacious…with a slight bit of tedious thrown in there for excitement and need to remind myself.
How I found a wonderfully inspiring quote the other day: “The difference between determination and stubbornness is that one comes from a strong will and the other from a strong won’t.”
And how I have to decide each day which I will have and how I will choose to live that day.
A SisuGirl indeed.
Things have been hopping here in SisuGirl-land…
Mike and I took Sisu to a dog park a few days ago and while she amused herself by chasing a mouse, we laughed over the signage.
I love signs like this.
We also took a drive one fine afternoon and ended up a but further than we expected…
Thats what can happen when you aren’t really travelling with a destination in mind!
I’ve been training for the Pasta Dash that is coming fast (next week!!!) and I am thrilled with my new piece of workout wear:
Its a running skirt/skort from RunningSkirts and I LOVE IT so very much. It gives me just that little extra bit of coverage over my rear so I don’t feel so exposed. Generally, my feelings towards workout gear is that I’m wearing X and working out and don’t care what you think because this is for me. Unfortunetly, that attitude doesn’t make me feel less ogled when running past men but, surprisingly, wearing a skirt does. The compression shorts underneath are perfect and stay in place and then the skirt over the top doesn’t ride either but gives that extra bit of coverage so you don’t see the shorts moulded to my rear…
See? It also helps that its summery and cute and the colours means that it will go with everything in my workout closet
And speaking for workout closet…I’ve decided to ‘move’ with my life in a slightly new direction. I have really enjoyed my (continuing) weight loss journey with my buddy and I feel that I would be a great motivator and helper for others to do the same so I have started a new course of study and certification…to become a ACE certified Personal Trainer.
You can look forward to seeing more about this as I work through the books and delve deeper into and onto this path. I’m wondering if I should start up a new section of the blog for it…got any input, fair reader?
Continuing on the fitness line: I finally did something that I have been thinking about for a long while now…
Points to the first person who can tell me a) Why I have 6 large stars and b)Why the first star is teal and the second star is pink.
I’ll think of some awesome prize for you, I promise! And I’ll explain everything in tomorrows blog post…cause there is a lot on my mind that needs OUT.
Also on the busy adventure front…I am starting some other new training tomorrow too. I’m becoming a Certified Nurses Aide for the state of Washington. There is a great need for caregivers and this is a great start for me here in WA. Send happy thoughts
Sometimes, I swear, this blog writes itself.
Other times I realise that its been over a week without posting and that I have these millions of thoughts and ideas and
wanttogetthemoutbuthavenoideawheretostartsoI
justhavetositandstarttypingbeforeIexplode….
Lets start with our visitors, shall we?
Right now, Mike and I are living with his mom in Hoquiam, WA. Its a quiet place that is very laid-back with very little really going on but for me in my transition time, this is perfect. I still feel a bit overwhelmed at the grocery store but I’m getting to feel more secure and less…explode-y…around large groups of people who I don’t know. One of my favourite things about being here though is that there are trees and forest just within reach. A short drive or hecl, even a walk puts us into undeveloped lands which brings me to our visitors. In most every North American city you will find cousins of my visitors, officially named Procyon lotor but more commonly known as…
We first met one afternoon when I was washing dishes and happened to look up and see the stripy tail poking out at me from under the bush. Lucky for me, this one waited for me to dry my hands and grab my camera before turning to face me for a while. After a snack of bird food, ring-tail wandered away and the dogs were intensely interested in that area when they went out for potty-breaks.
And then a few weeks went by and there was next to no sign of them…
and then they came back…
with babies…
My poor Sisu has been going crazy trying to figure out how to deal with these invaders, especially since Mamma Coon has an extreme aversion to having her babies smelled by the ‘Su. She managed to tree a litter of 3 in the backyard a few days ago and couldn’t decided who was of more interest, Mamma Coon on the other side of a fence or Coon Kits up in the tree. I helped a bit by ‘watching’ (photographing) the kits while she barked at a ticked-off Mamma but sadly none of those shots came out and retreat was the only sane course of action. The next day a different Mamma came through the front yard with her two kits and stopped just alongside the driveway for a photo opp. I got within 5′ and snapped about 20 shots before, with little discussion…
they wandered off to go be raccoons.
Remember last week when I told you about the Romedale X roving I just bought
and how touching it and seeing it made me want to pull out my wheel and spin RIGHTNOW?
Well, I did unpack my wheel and I did start spinning this last week but the best laid plans vague ideas of mice and Tashies oft go awry…so its no surprise that this one did too!
I had fully intended on finishing Intentions: Hope and then beginning this lovely Romedale.
Yeah…No.
Well, I did finish the I: Hope but then I was completely called Inspired by Intentions: Inspiration
You can see that ‘Hope’ is there on the top left and sadly, that is the only photo I have of it in progress. Ah well, there is always the plying to photograph and trust me, the plying will come soon.
Fertility and Healing have been “resting” for a while now so they are in perfect shape to N-ply*first and second and by that time Hope will be ready to go and then Inspiration!
Which only leaves me with Joy, Love, Patience, Peace, Perseverance and Strength to go…
And just 6 weeks to go until my 30th birthday. Holy Crickets.
We won’t talk about that right now…lets talk about another looming deadline, my 101 in 1001.
Ok, lets no look too hard at that list because it shows a bit too much of my delusional side…but lets focus on #34: Run 2-5k’s
Now, I’ve run 3.1 miles before…I’ve even run 6.2 (10k) but never in a real race with official sign-ups or anything.
And here is where my Intentions: Inspiration came in because I was totally inspired to make the leap and sign up for my first official run.
The Pasta Dash begins August 7th at 6pm at the Olympia Farmers Market and if you’re free, I’d love a cheering section and I’m sure Mike would love your company!
To show further proof of my insanity, I’ll tell you about the other races that I’m thinking about:
Seattle Marathon 10k August 27th
Iron Girl Seattle 10k September 11th
Seattle Marathon Half Marathon November 27th
(Yes, the SM 10K is in August and the Marathon itself is in November; No, I have no idea why)
I’m really wondering if I can do a 10K before my birthday though. I need to get out onto the track and see how I do and if I would be able to train fully for a 10 k in 5 weeks…any one out there have advice? I’d appreciate it!
* You have to** let your single rest for a while on the bobbin before plying (twisting it with itself or another piece of wool) or else it can be too twisty and kink up while you try to ply. This leads to much cursing and possibly tears. Since, while N-plying, you are only working with the one single and forming a chain ply, I find that the more rest and relaxation the single has to “know” its new twisted form, the better I am able to ply sans cursing.
** “Have to” is totally negotiable. I know people who ‘always’ and people who ‘never’ rest before plying. For me, I “Have To” when it comes of Navajo/Chain plying but its negotiable for everything else.
