It's 27 more days until my 40th birthday and I need to make some changes, get back on track, get out of this apathetic rut I am in, yadda yadda yadda. After nearly 40 years of life, I think I finally understand who I am and how that fits in with who I want to be. I need to do a few things differently to reconcile the two; some are attainable relatively easily, some I may never get there but I will keep trying. I'm a listy/calendar/spreadsheet type person so I haven't yet plotted out a more specific framework but I will soon.
I don't feel old turning 40. I feel like I finally figured out where they put the instruction manual. I think my 40s will be the best yet.
I can make it so.
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Almost forgot!
With all the depressing crap that my first post devolved into, I almost forgot -- I won my running league division!!! Yay me!!!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
What a wonderful world this could be
Checking in with all my cilley fwends! I had the oddest weekend, full of quite the amazing and the unexpected and then ending with maybe the unfortunately expected. I can't really elaborate more than that since it's just not me that was involved, but I will say that when you've been single for a long time and you're good with that, you tend to forget that deep down you might be lonely. Maybe really lonely. So, stuff happened this weekend that reminded me of that and since nothing else has changed now I'm trying to put it back into its box.
I like being single, I really do, but sometimes I wish I could find someone who wants to keep me. Just for a little while.
Anyhow. Enough of that crap.
I registered for my last two races of 2010, the four mile Turkey Trot at the zoo that I also did last year (hope they have a better tech tee this year) and a new race, the Holiday Half. Yes, I've signed up for a half marathon for December 12, thereby guaranteeing a crappy, wet winter in Portland. Sorry everyone.
I've been needing a goal to get me back into running, and this half will be it. I kind of have a time goal. I ran the Race for the Roses half in over three hours and didn't feel like it was a good effort at all. So I'm aiming for my original half goal of 2:45 for this race. Hey, at least if it is crappy and wet I'll run faster just to get it done, right? Right???
I have 31 more days until I turn 40, and my birthday is always more of my new year's than the end of the calendar year. I've been thinking about what I want to do and be in the upcoming year. I know that more than anything I want to break out of this fat, ugly prison I'm in. Then maybe I'll have the confidence to get out there and make some friends. Be a little less lonely all the time.
Still cheers,
the CilleyGirl
I like being single, I really do, but sometimes I wish I could find someone who wants to keep me. Just for a little while.
Anyhow. Enough of that crap.
I registered for my last two races of 2010, the four mile Turkey Trot at the zoo that I also did last year (hope they have a better tech tee this year) and a new race, the Holiday Half. Yes, I've signed up for a half marathon for December 12, thereby guaranteeing a crappy, wet winter in Portland. Sorry everyone.
I've been needing a goal to get me back into running, and this half will be it. I kind of have a time goal. I ran the Race for the Roses half in over three hours and didn't feel like it was a good effort at all. So I'm aiming for my original half goal of 2:45 for this race. Hey, at least if it is crappy and wet I'll run faster just to get it done, right? Right???
I have 31 more days until I turn 40, and my birthday is always more of my new year's than the end of the calendar year. I've been thinking about what I want to do and be in the upcoming year. I know that more than anything I want to break out of this fat, ugly prison I'm in. Then maybe I'll have the confidence to get out there and make some friends. Be a little less lonely all the time.
Still cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Monday, September 20, 2010
The best weather for a run is before the monsoon
This became my new motto at my Saturday race, where the weather was absolutely beautiful weather for our run and for about 30 minutes thereafter. Then the rain started to fall and it quickly progressed to summer monsoon season in Portland.
I usually dress way too warm for runs. A blogger recently wrote about how if you're standing around waiting for a race to begin and thinking about how perfect the temperature is, you're overdressed. That's me, in a nutshell. But for Saturday I did manage to talk myself out of wearing anything more than a tech tee and capris and within five minutes of starting to run I was sooo glad I did. It was almost too warm in some spots of the course when there was no wind (the adjacent highway creates a big wind tunnel effect in places).
Except for the five steps I took to get to a tree to pull the huge (HUGE!!) rock out of the tread of my shoe, I amazed myself by running the whole thing. It became purely mental towards the end, and the zen iPod saved me. My running playlist always starts with U2's "Beautiful Day," which I love to run to. My power song right now is "Pretty Fly for a White Guy" -- I go between that and "It's the End of the World (As We Know It)", which I think is a great running song. I did my power song to keep myself running the last quarter mile before the two mile mark; my deal with myself was run to two miles and see how it went after that. Then it became, well you've gone this far just go a little bit farther, and then finally, dude you can't stop now. The very last quarter mile or so was when my all-time zen running song came on: Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty." Really, how can you not push through all the fatigue with that one?
I was hoping to break 40 minutes -- really impressive for me since I hadn't run a step since my last race five weeks prior -- but I came in at 0:40:39. Probably that stupid rock (HUGE! HUGE rock!!!) in my shoe.
The race was directed by the guy who does my running league and it was very well done. Panera Bread was one of the sponsors so we had all these tasty and fresh bagels and pastries plus their flavored cream cheese. The honey and walnut cream cheese was absolutely amazing. Plus plenty of food, even for the very last people to finish. And to cap it all off, the fog and rain held off until we were wrapping everything up.
I can't wait for the October 2nd Fall Finale with my league. I should be the proud winner of cash! I've also signed up for the Run Like Hell 10K for October 24 -- my very last race in the 30-39 age bracket. After that, I'll be a master.
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
I usually dress way too warm for runs. A blogger recently wrote about how if you're standing around waiting for a race to begin and thinking about how perfect the temperature is, you're overdressed. That's me, in a nutshell. But for Saturday I did manage to talk myself out of wearing anything more than a tech tee and capris and within five minutes of starting to run I was sooo glad I did. It was almost too warm in some spots of the course when there was no wind (the adjacent highway creates a big wind tunnel effect in places).
Except for the five steps I took to get to a tree to pull the huge (HUGE!!) rock out of the tread of my shoe, I amazed myself by running the whole thing. It became purely mental towards the end, and the zen iPod saved me. My running playlist always starts with U2's "Beautiful Day," which I love to run to. My power song right now is "Pretty Fly for a White Guy" -- I go between that and "It's the End of the World (As We Know It)", which I think is a great running song. I did my power song to keep myself running the last quarter mile before the two mile mark; my deal with myself was run to two miles and see how it went after that. Then it became, well you've gone this far just go a little bit farther, and then finally, dude you can't stop now. The very last quarter mile or so was when my all-time zen running song came on: Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty." Really, how can you not push through all the fatigue with that one?
I was hoping to break 40 minutes -- really impressive for me since I hadn't run a step since my last race five weeks prior -- but I came in at 0:40:39. Probably that stupid rock (HUGE! HUGE rock!!!) in my shoe.
The race was directed by the guy who does my running league and it was very well done. Panera Bread was one of the sponsors so we had all these tasty and fresh bagels and pastries plus their flavored cream cheese. The honey and walnut cream cheese was absolutely amazing. Plus plenty of food, even for the very last people to finish. And to cap it all off, the fog and rain held off until we were wrapping everything up.
I can't wait for the October 2nd Fall Finale with my league. I should be the proud winner of cash! I've also signed up for the Run Like Hell 10K for October 24 -- my very last race in the 30-39 age bracket. After that, I'll be a master.
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Friday, September 17, 2010
Boring: It's not just a town in Oregon
Or maybe "not terribly exciting" is a better way to describe my world these days. It's like when I talk to my grandmother on the phone; we're both "yeah, nothing new here either" and how often are you supposed to call people to tell them nothing?
Anyhow.
My end of year work craziness is starting much earlier this year -- in fact, my June work craziness never really let up, it's the busiest summer I've had in the seven years I've been with my office -- so all of my attention is slowing becoming focused on that one December 31 date, with every thing else fading away in comparison. I'm so-so with paleo these days -- stupid cinnamon rolls, I should just never go through the bakery aisle EVER -- but need to be more focused on that. The problem is, eating is one of those things that is fading away in comparison to everything else; having to stop and eat becomes an annoyance. And if it's not fading away due to work, it's being sacrificed to the sleep gods.
Although I'm not sure if I'll be able to save the rest of this year -- seriously, work gets INSANE the closer we come to December -- I need a goal for next year. I want to do the inaugural Vancouver (Washingon) marathon next June, but I just haven't committed yet. It is on June 19, which is awfully close to my big July 1 work craziness deadline. I'd have to take off a day or two from work, although hmmm my boss took a whole ten days off right around that time this year so maybe that's not a concern I need to have. And my taper would be during the first part of June so I wouldn't have to worry about huge long runs on the weekend.
I think I will register for that this weekend.
I am running a 5K race tomorrow. Which reminds me -- if anyone in the Portland metro area wants to do a free 5K race, there's one in Tigard tomorrow. I won't be there, because I'm doing a race in Hillsboro through my running league, but I ran it last year and it was better done than many non-free races. Check out the City of Tigard's website for more info. Tons of walkers and families turn out for this one if that makes a difference (either way) for you.
I also still need to get a 10K in to complete my goal of racing all the distances in 2010. Unfortunately, I'm not sure there are any that fit my schedule. The one I was planning to do (Catalyst Challenge in Tigard) isn't going to be held this year. There is one in Wilsonville but it's the day after my Fall Finale 5K so I don't want to do that one. My mom will be in town for the Run Like Hell in Portland -- I ran their 5K last year and she walked it -- and there is a 10K as part of that race... I might be able to do the run in the morning and then we go to the coast that afternoon. Or if I can't get down to visit my grandparents the following weekend there's a 10K as part of an ultra event at Champoeg State Park. Ah well, I'll figure something out.
I also want to do a half marathon next year with a time goal. I think that would be a good fall race goal. And I still want to do an ultra. I just need to dragoon somebody into crewing for me. Blackmail may need to be involved....
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Anyhow.
My end of year work craziness is starting much earlier this year -- in fact, my June work craziness never really let up, it's the busiest summer I've had in the seven years I've been with my office -- so all of my attention is slowing becoming focused on that one December 31 date, with every thing else fading away in comparison. I'm so-so with paleo these days -- stupid cinnamon rolls, I should just never go through the bakery aisle EVER -- but need to be more focused on that. The problem is, eating is one of those things that is fading away in comparison to everything else; having to stop and eat becomes an annoyance. And if it's not fading away due to work, it's being sacrificed to the sleep gods.
Although I'm not sure if I'll be able to save the rest of this year -- seriously, work gets INSANE the closer we come to December -- I need a goal for next year. I want to do the inaugural Vancouver (Washingon) marathon next June, but I just haven't committed yet. It is on June 19, which is awfully close to my big July 1 work craziness deadline. I'd have to take off a day or two from work, although hmmm my boss took a whole ten days off right around that time this year so maybe that's not a concern I need to have. And my taper would be during the first part of June so I wouldn't have to worry about huge long runs on the weekend.
I think I will register for that this weekend.
I am running a 5K race tomorrow. Which reminds me -- if anyone in the Portland metro area wants to do a free 5K race, there's one in Tigard tomorrow. I won't be there, because I'm doing a race in Hillsboro through my running league, but I ran it last year and it was better done than many non-free races. Check out the City of Tigard's website for more info. Tons of walkers and families turn out for this one if that makes a difference (either way) for you.
I also still need to get a 10K in to complete my goal of racing all the distances in 2010. Unfortunately, I'm not sure there are any that fit my schedule. The one I was planning to do (Catalyst Challenge in Tigard) isn't going to be held this year. There is one in Wilsonville but it's the day after my Fall Finale 5K so I don't want to do that one. My mom will be in town for the Run Like Hell in Portland -- I ran their 5K last year and she walked it -- and there is a 10K as part of that race... I might be able to do the run in the morning and then we go to the coast that afternoon. Or if I can't get down to visit my grandparents the following weekend there's a 10K as part of an ultra event at Champoeg State Park. Ah well, I'll figure something out.
I also want to do a half marathon next year with a time goal. I think that would be a good fall race goal. And I still want to do an ultra. I just need to dragoon somebody into crewing for me. Blackmail may need to be involved....
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
I know you are, but what am I?
One great thing about paleo is that it burns fat, particularly the fat carried around the abdomen. Which is one of my major trouble spots -- I feel like I look pregnant all the time, which sucks when you're not -- so I've been very happy with my shrinking belly. Now I look like I'm just chubby rather than pregnant. Better yet, since my belly roll mostly don't dunlap itself anymore, what I found out recently is an external yeast infection (yuck!) underneath there is almost completely gone.
Along the lines of looking a gift horse in the mouth, though, is that the waistband of my pants sits much higher than it used to. Most of my height is in my long legs; I've got a fairly short waist. When I had a jumbo-sized belly, the button of any pants I wore would sit low, at or below my belly button, because the pants would be pulled wider. Kind of like have low rider pants on, but it really only rides low in the front.
Now there's a lot less tum for my pants to hang up on so unless I'm wearing low rider pants (which don't really come in a dress slack, do they?) the waist of my pants sits at my natural waist. Which is high because I am short waisted. So although it looks normal, it doesn't feel normal.
In fact, it feels like Pee-Wee Herman. Except you rarely see Pee-Wee's high waisted nerd pants although you know they've got to be there. Instead, I've got this guy:
And that shows pretty well where it feels like my waistband is these days -- right underneath my breasts.
Ah well, soon the chub will be so small that I can wear low riders. On purpose.
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Along the lines of looking a gift horse in the mouth, though, is that the waistband of my pants sits much higher than it used to. Most of my height is in my long legs; I've got a fairly short waist. When I had a jumbo-sized belly, the button of any pants I wore would sit low, at or below my belly button, because the pants would be pulled wider. Kind of like have low rider pants on, but it really only rides low in the front.
Now there's a lot less tum for my pants to hang up on so unless I'm wearing low rider pants (which don't really come in a dress slack, do they?) the waist of my pants sits at my natural waist. Which is high because I am short waisted. So although it looks normal, it doesn't feel normal.
In fact, it feels like Pee-Wee Herman. Except you rarely see Pee-Wee's high waisted nerd pants although you know they've got to be there. Instead, I've got this guy:
And that shows pretty well where it feels like my waistband is these days -- right underneath my breasts.
Ah well, soon the chub will be so small that I can wear low riders. On purpose.
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Special talents
I've got those ol' TOM blues and consequently have been MIA since I didn't want to BYAD or give you TMI about the aforementioned TOM. Nope, got no idea why I'm SCRA.* Yep, gonna stop it now.
Instead of being all boring and mopey, I thought I'd share some of my special talents and invite you to share some of your own. Enjoy!
I can type around 125 wpm.
I know the mailing address for the Oregon Tax Court by heart.
And its fax number.
I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue.
I can watch 22 hours of True Blood over a two day period and still have a drop or two of brains left in my head.
I can recite verbatim the intro to The A-Team television show.
Without googling it.
I can explain to you the concepts of real market value, maximum assessed value, exception value, the changed property ratio, and compression as they relate to property taxes in Oregon. Can't guarantee you'll understand it, but I can explain it to you.
I can balance my checkbook.
I can identify the three different types of setter on sight.
I can pack a box, a car, or a truck with geometric precision such that every inch of available space is used in the most efficient manner.
I can use a 10-key without looking.
I can belly dance.
I am an excellent speller.
I can root enthusiastically for my college football team year after year even though they rarely have a chance in hell of winning a game, much less an entire conference.
Cats like me.
I know the lyrics to almost every song from the 1980s.
I know that teal carpet is always a bad decorating choice.
I can successfully grill a tasty steak.
I can drive a tractor.
I can run out of things to think of.
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
*Suddenly crazy for acronyms
Instead of being all boring and mopey, I thought I'd share some of my special talents and invite you to share some of your own. Enjoy!
I can type around 125 wpm.
I know the mailing address for the Oregon Tax Court by heart.
And its fax number.
I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue.
I can watch 22 hours of True Blood over a two day period and still have a drop or two of brains left in my head.
I can recite verbatim the intro to The A-Team television show.
Without googling it.
I can explain to you the concepts of real market value, maximum assessed value, exception value, the changed property ratio, and compression as they relate to property taxes in Oregon. Can't guarantee you'll understand it, but I can explain it to you.
I can balance my checkbook.
I can identify the three different types of setter on sight.
I can pack a box, a car, or a truck with geometric precision such that every inch of available space is used in the most efficient manner.
I can use a 10-key without looking.
I can belly dance.
I am an excellent speller.
I can root enthusiastically for my college football team year after year even though they rarely have a chance in hell of winning a game, much less an entire conference.
Cats like me.
I know the lyrics to almost every song from the 1980s.
I know that teal carpet is always a bad decorating choice.
I can successfully grill a tasty steak.
I can drive a tractor.
I can run out of things to think of.
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
*Suddenly crazy for acronyms
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!
And the 30-day personal paleo challenge is over!! Guess what I'm having for lunch today? Can you? Can you guess? Huh???? Come on, guess!
Yes, that is obnoxious. On with the show!
Starting weight: 193.2 lbs - August 1
Ending weight: 186.4 lbs - September 1
Lowest weight: 185.2 lbs - August 26
Weight lost: 6.8 lbs!
Not bad for merely changing my eating habits, eh? I'm a little disappointed that TOM had to jump in there right at the end and ruin a lovely streak of losses. That I was retaining water is the only explanation I have for the several gains I had over the past few days. Today the scale took a big dip downward today so hopefully that trend will continue once again.
As long as I don't go crazy eating out. I am sooooo excited to have a meal today that someone else has made and that someone else will clean up. I like my own cooking but I need a break.After lunch, the plan is to get a mocha and some sort of pastry-like object. I might go out for sushi again tonight with friends (different place -- can you tell I love sushi?) if my stomach thinks it's a good idea. And then tomorrow I'll go back to paleo as much as possible. I really like what it has done for me and I want to keep up with that with just the occasional opportunity for a meal out or a treat now and then.
Overall I'd call this a success! Now I need to start adding exercise back into the mix.... Time to figure out some September goals I think. After all, I've got a race coming up in two weeks and then it's the final race of the season for my running league the first weekend in October. And not too long thereafter, I turn 40!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Yes, that is obnoxious. On with the show!
Starting weight: 193.2 lbs - August 1
Ending weight: 186.4 lbs - September 1
Lowest weight: 185.2 lbs - August 26
Weight lost: 6.8 lbs!
Not bad for merely changing my eating habits, eh? I'm a little disappointed that TOM had to jump in there right at the end and ruin a lovely streak of losses. That I was retaining water is the only explanation I have for the several gains I had over the past few days. Today the scale took a big dip downward today so hopefully that trend will continue once again.
As long as I don't go crazy eating out. I am sooooo excited to have a meal today that someone else has made and that someone else will clean up. I like my own cooking but I need a break.After lunch, the plan is to get a mocha and some sort of pastry-like object. I might go out for sushi again tonight with friends (different place -- can you tell I love sushi?) if my stomach thinks it's a good idea. And then tomorrow I'll go back to paleo as much as possible. I really like what it has done for me and I want to keep up with that with just the occasional opportunity for a meal out or a treat now and then.
Overall I'd call this a success! Now I need to start adding exercise back into the mix.... Time to figure out some September goals I think. After all, I've got a race coming up in two weeks and then it's the final race of the season for my running league the first weekend in October. And not too long thereafter, I turn 40!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)