Ok, he's really not that little anymore (6'1" 135#), but he'll always be my baby.
little boy is 16 today. He got some good stuff for camp, his requested bday dinner of gourmet cheeses, crackers & granny smith apples, and a cookies & cream ice cream cake. We also went to the passport office and applied for his adult passport, which they promised (ha) would arrive within 4 weeks, which is plenty of time before he heads out for his Canadian canoe adventure this summer.
It's a good thing that I didn't try to get his passport before he turned 16. This isn't on the website (at least it wasn't when I filled out the online form last week), but they apparently changed the law again regarding parental consent for passports. Now, anyone under 16 (that is, anyone applying for a child's passport, as you get an adult 10 year passport when you're 16) must have both parents consent when applying for a child's passport. Previously, if a child was 14 or over, only one parent needed to be present to sign the form and consent. Now, I think that this will inconvenience the majority of parents trying to get passports for their kids. About the only people I know who are still married to their original spouse don't have any kids yet. Even the ones with kids, how convenient is it to have both parents take the day off to sit in the passport office with the kid? And we all know how divorced parents get. Even without that natural acrimony, my sons' father lives 350 miles away. Exactly how would I have been able to coerce him into driving all this way so that little boy could get a passport? (Ok, there probably is some mail in option for this, but my priorities aren't exactly my ex-husband's priorities, you know what I mean?) Yeah, yeah, I know, international kidnapping, it's all the rage. But really, once the kid is 14, is that really going to happen?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Race map & splits
| 1 | 11:04 |
| 2 | 10:48 |
| 3 | 11:45 |
| 4 | 10:34 |
| 5 | 11:25 |
| 6 | 10:11 |
| 7 | 11:22 |
| 8 | 11:18 |
| 9 | 11:03 |
| 10 | 12:04 |
| 11 | 10:54 |
| 12 | 12:51 |
| 13 | 10:12 |
| 14 | 11:05 |
| 14.48 | 10:41 |
Note from the race director: There was ice on the Ski Hill and all races were shortened. I know this will hurt a lot of egos, but it is what it is. The 50k runners ran 28 miles. The 25k runners ran 14.6 miles. The 50k team runners ran 7.2 miles. I'm sorry, but it was asked to be done.So, the most fun part of the race, running down the ski jump hill (twice), was cut. Of course, it would really have been unfun to slip and slide down that hill. The mud was an experience in itself. I had more fun last year, when I was better trained for it, but heck, I ran almost 15 miles and am none the worse for wear. I have a running schedule planned out for the next year and a half. We'll see.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Trail Mix 25K
2:41.49, 10:26 mpm pace, 16th of 17 women age 40-44, 314th of 347 finishers.
Average heart rate: 162. Max heart rate 184.
Map & splits to follow.
Average heart rate: 162. Max heart rate 184.
Map & splits to follow.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Are we having fun yet?
I replaced the batteries in my watch and heart rate monitor. I decided that since I'm running slow anyway and I'm stuck on the treadmill for lots of my runs (though not this week, I think), I may as well give low heart rate training a go. I know that my aerobic capacity is crap right now, given the lackadaisical running I've been doing over the past month:
Last week: 4 days in a row, total of 18 miles
Week before last: a single 7 mile run
Week before that: one long run of 15 miles
Week prior to that: 3 runs, 23 miles total
One month ago: 6 runs, 40 miles total
I've said it before, I'll say it today: I'm a slacker.
There are many, many different theories on how to do low heart rate training. I'm going with Maffetone (you don't have to read the whole article, scroll down to the 180 Formula for details). One size (pretty much) fits all. I know that I have a pretty high max heart rate (but what it actually is, who knows? I'm not doing a stress test!), my resting HR is not great right now (60-65), and I am really not feeling like I'm in any kind of good aerobic shape. So, Maf's 180 formula is general enough for me. It's likely close enough that it will do some good.
Has it done anything so far? Nope. There's not a lot of agreement on how long to do this to see results (results are defined as running faster than you could before at a lower heart rate than when you first started this plan), somewhere between 8 to 12 weeks, I believe. That works for me. I'll take it easy on my next two races... not that I was going to bust out some serious speed or anything... and then start reintroducing tempo stuff toward the end of June.
If I can get through this without some part of my body hurting or breaking, I may plan something for fall. But at least this is capturing my attention and I'm looking forward to running instead of dreading it. Ooooh! Fun! Let's see if I can keep the annoying watch from beeping at me! No? Well, let's trying breathing deeper (works, for awhile). No? Let's change the stride a little (works sometimes). No? Oh hell, I'll slow down some.
Last week: 4 days in a row, total of 18 miles
Week before last: a single 7 mile run
Week before that: one long run of 15 miles
Week prior to that: 3 runs, 23 miles total
One month ago: 6 runs, 40 miles total
I've said it before, I'll say it today: I'm a slacker.
There are many, many different theories on how to do low heart rate training. I'm going with Maffetone (you don't have to read the whole article, scroll down to the 180 Formula for details). One size (pretty much) fits all. I know that I have a pretty high max heart rate (but what it actually is, who knows? I'm not doing a stress test!), my resting HR is not great right now (60-65), and I am really not feeling like I'm in any kind of good aerobic shape. So, Maf's 180 formula is general enough for me. It's likely close enough that it will do some good.
Has it done anything so far? Nope. There's not a lot of agreement on how long to do this to see results (results are defined as running faster than you could before at a lower heart rate than when you first started this plan), somewhere between 8 to 12 weeks, I believe. That works for me. I'll take it easy on my next two races... not that I was going to bust out some serious speed or anything... and then start reintroducing tempo stuff toward the end of June.
If I can get through this without some part of my body hurting or breaking, I may plan something for fall. But at least this is capturing my attention and I'm looking forward to running instead of dreading it. Ooooh! Fun! Let's see if I can keep the annoying watch from beeping at me! No? Well, let's trying breathing deeper (works, for awhile). No? Let's change the stride a little (works sometimes). No? Oh hell, I'll slow down some.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Do you want to restart your computer now?
I've been getting this helpful Microsoft pop-up all freaking day.
Automatic Updates
Updating your computer is almost complete. You must restart your computer for the updates to take effect.
Do you want to restart your computer now?
Restart Now Restart Later
It pops up multiple times an hour, and NO I do NOT want to restart my computer now. I'm working. Leave me alone. The computers here at the State are all robotically controlled and get all sorts of weird updates all the time. They generally serve to slow down processing and response time dramatically. And people, I'm a lawyer, I'm word processing and using Lexis. This ain't graphics intensive stuff. There's nearly zero demand on the machine from the user end. The slowness & sluggishness is all a result of Big Brother helpfully updating things for you. And the updates always make things worse.
So I'm making quesadillas tonight. I stole part of the recipe from this blog and another part of the recipe from here. The rest of it I made up myself.
1 can pinto beans, drained & rinsed
1 c frozen corn, toasted in a pan or broiled a bit in the oven
(mix these guys together, mashing the pintos a bit)
1 large onion, sliced thinly
1 t olive oil
(brown the onion in a frying pan over med low heat for a long time until carmelized)
1 can diced green chiles (or, you could roast a couple poblano peppers and slice them)
(mix the onion and the chiles)
Jalapeño slices
8" flour tortillas
Shredded cheese of your choice (I've used goat cheese and cheddar, both are good in different ways)
More olive oil
Salt
Spread half a cup or so of the bean/corn mixture onto one half of a tortilla. Add some of the onion/chile mixture. Throw in some jalapeño slices. Top with cheese (or, if you're using a spreadable cheese, spread it on the other half of the tortilla). Fold tortilla in half. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place, oiled & salted side down in a frying pan over med heat. Cook for a couple of minutes, until nicely browned. Brush top side with oil and sprinkle with salt, then flip to brown that side. Cut in two, serve with salsa. I made foodblogga's awesome Habañero Salsa.
Oh, and I managed all my little runs this week, despite the inch of sloppy thick rain we got. I ran inside.
Automatic Updates
Updating your computer is almost complete. You must restart your computer for the updates to take effect.
Do you want to restart your computer now?
Restart Now Restart Later
It pops up multiple times an hour, and NO I do NOT want to restart my computer now. I'm working. Leave me alone. The computers here at the State are all robotically controlled and get all sorts of weird updates all the time. They generally serve to slow down processing and response time dramatically. And people, I'm a lawyer, I'm word processing and using Lexis. This ain't graphics intensive stuff. There's nearly zero demand on the machine from the user end. The slowness & sluggishness is all a result of Big Brother helpfully updating things for you. And the updates always make things worse.
So I'm making quesadillas tonight. I stole part of the recipe from this blog and another part of the recipe from here. The rest of it I made up myself.
1 can pinto beans, drained & rinsed
1 c frozen corn, toasted in a pan or broiled a bit in the oven
(mix these guys together, mashing the pintos a bit)
1 large onion, sliced thinly
1 t olive oil
(brown the onion in a frying pan over med low heat for a long time until carmelized)
1 can diced green chiles (or, you could roast a couple poblano peppers and slice them)
(mix the onion and the chiles)
Jalapeño slices
8" flour tortillas
Shredded cheese of your choice (I've used goat cheese and cheddar, both are good in different ways)
More olive oil
Salt
Spread half a cup or so of the bean/corn mixture onto one half of a tortilla. Add some of the onion/chile mixture. Throw in some jalapeño slices. Top with cheese (or, if you're using a spreadable cheese, spread it on the other half of the tortilla). Fold tortilla in half. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place, oiled & salted side down in a frying pan over med heat. Cook for a couple of minutes, until nicely browned. Brush top side with oil and sprinkle with salt, then flip to brown that side. Cut in two, serve with salsa. I made foodblogga's awesome Habañero Salsa.
Oh, and I managed all my little runs this week, despite the inch of sloppy thick rain we got. I ran inside.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Understatement of the year
So, my running buddy, who kindly comments here as "Her Roo-ness" sends me a txt this afternoon.
So. Um. I'm a Dr.
Just a tiny little understatement from someone who defended her dissertation this week. This is a woman who's been working on her Ph.D. for godknows how many years, teaches MIDDLE SCHOOL, has been having "issues" with her tool of an advisor, has stressed to all hell about him changing the rules multiple times midway through the process and signing her up to present papers that contradict her own research (and taking all the credit), (possibly) thinking she wasn't quite good enough or smart enough (see that comment from yesterday). Hmph! Genius, I tell you, quite possibly a saint. And she's my imaginary friend. I couldn't be more proud.
Congratulations Dr. Smith!!
So. Um. I'm a Dr.
Just a tiny little understatement from someone who defended her dissertation this week. This is a woman who's been working on her Ph.D. for godknows how many years, teaches MIDDLE SCHOOL, has been having "issues" with her tool of an advisor, has stressed to all hell about him changing the rules multiple times midway through the process and signing her up to present papers that contradict her own research (and taking all the credit), (possibly) thinking she wasn't quite good enough or smart enough (see that comment from yesterday). Hmph! Genius, I tell you, quite possibly a saint. And she's my imaginary friend. I couldn't be more proud.
Congratulations Dr. Smith!!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Reboot
I haven't been sleeping well, which translates into not much running has actually been accomplished. So I'm trying to reboot, so to speak. Fun thing to do a week and a half before a 15 mile trail race, but whatever.
I did get out at lunchtime today for 5K with the dog. She was thrilled that someone came by to pay attention to her in the middle of the day, and the sun was actually out for the brief time we were outside. If I'm going to make a habit of this, I'd better bring running apparel to work and map out some running routes in this town. I have to get back in the habit of morning running, but the weather has not been cooperative (nor has my REM state, but that's another matter entirely). Speaking of weather, they're forecasting doom and gloom starting tomorrow all the way through Saturday. We did actually get solid white precipitation last week, so perhaps they'll be correct again. "Correct" is a figure of speech, though, as they claimed something about 8-10 inches and we actually got about 4. So they're still wrong, but it did actually snow.
I got everyone's taxes done and filed on time, including mine. I did 3 returns besides my own this year. We also did little boy's for fun, but he didn't make the threshold amount for filing, so we skipped it.
Big Boy made a run to the border and finally has a paying job. We filled out the application for the Peace Corps, but they want someone his age to already have a college degree before they ship you overseas. Too bad they don't actually come out and say that before you spend days filling out the app and bother your coaches for recommendations. So, on to Americorps. There's some cool stuff to be done, even by teenagers, even without college degrees. Some of it in Alaska. But more on that later.
little boy is getting ready for his Chemistry AP test (we'll make sure not to apply to UW-Milwaukee, where they'll undoubtedly never have heard of anyone taking such a test before and balk at awarding retroactive credits), the St. Paul City Honors Orchestra, a GTCYS concert in May, and it's track season. Busy boy.
SO is working at her new job as an organizer for the union. Top secret hush hush stuff. I have no idea what she does, but she does actually answer her cell phone now. I suppose that's a plus.
I did get out at lunchtime today for 5K with the dog. She was thrilled that someone came by to pay attention to her in the middle of the day, and the sun was actually out for the brief time we were outside. If I'm going to make a habit of this, I'd better bring running apparel to work and map out some running routes in this town. I have to get back in the habit of morning running, but the weather has not been cooperative (nor has my REM state, but that's another matter entirely). Speaking of weather, they're forecasting doom and gloom starting tomorrow all the way through Saturday. We did actually get solid white precipitation last week, so perhaps they'll be correct again. "Correct" is a figure of speech, though, as they claimed something about 8-10 inches and we actually got about 4. So they're still wrong, but it did actually snow.
I got everyone's taxes done and filed on time, including mine. I did 3 returns besides my own this year. We also did little boy's for fun, but he didn't make the threshold amount for filing, so we skipped it.
Big Boy made a run to the border and finally has a paying job. We filled out the application for the Peace Corps, but they want someone his age to already have a college degree before they ship you overseas. Too bad they don't actually come out and say that before you spend days filling out the app and bother your coaches for recommendations. So, on to Americorps. There's some cool stuff to be done, even by teenagers, even without college degrees. Some of it in Alaska. But more on that later.
little boy is getting ready for his Chemistry AP test (we'll make sure not to apply to UW-Milwaukee, where they'll undoubtedly never have heard of anyone taking such a test before and balk at awarding retroactive credits), the St. Paul City Honors Orchestra, a GTCYS concert in May, and it's track season. Busy boy.
SO is working at her new job as an organizer for the union. Top secret hush hush stuff. I have no idea what she does, but she does actually answer her cell phone now. I suppose that's a plus.
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