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::30.4.07::
I've had a most productive day today. I got up and went for a run then got my morning coffee plus the latest issue of Runners World (featuring a few familiar faces). I finished an assignment for my editing class and did some work on a short story then played some Guitar Hero (finally got my PS2 off Andrew and got it set up). I've gone from not being able to get all the way through a song to actually finishing three songs! I rock! Then I had to go into the city for my editing class. As I walked in, I got a phone call. Four days temp work. It's only data entry which I hate but I can handle it for four days esp if it means cash. Which means I can buy a bike helmet and lock and get my bike home :) I did my class and learnt all about the exciting world of infinite verbs then walked home and somehow got lost in Edinburgh Gardens (okay that's not so productive but funny - I normally walk about the park if it's dark but stupidly walked through the park and got disoriented for some reason). Now I'm home and heating the stuffed capsicums I prepared this morning plus got my contributor's copy of an anthology with one of my short stories in it. All up, a most satisfyingly productive day.
I went to the gym and did a bit of a cardio circuit then headed to the weights room. Well either in the past few weeks of no weight work I've developed slayer strength or else the dumbbells were marked wrong (they had the weight in kgs marked on by hand so I'm guessing something is wrong there). I picked up a 12.5 kg dumbbell to do my one arm rows and it felt like around 7.5 kgs. The most I've ever used for this exercise is 15 kgs and I figured since I've not done them for a while I'd need to go lighter. I ended up using 20 kgs weights according to them. Even with that exercise, I can't remember it's name but you lift the dumbbells straight up over your head and it hurts like hell, I had to use 10kgs and I normally struggle with 5. It feels good to be doing weights again but I hope they were wrong. My dumbbell set at home only goes up to 12.5 kg and I can't be buying new plates at the moment! Tonight I cooked the yummiest dinner. I love brown rice but haven't cooked it for ages cos I don't want to be standing around our craphole kitchen forever waiting for it to cook, but last week I realised I could get it boiling then put it on to simmer and watch one episode of 24 (plus knit around 10 rows of my scarf) and the rice would be ready to eat. How's that for multitasking? Anyway the brown rice I cooked last week was so magically delicious that we ate about half of it on it's own while waiting for the stirfry to cook so this week I decided to experiment. This is the recipe: Kathryn's Magically Delicious Brown Rice ThingyWater Stock cube Soy sauce Brown rice (around a 3:2 ratio of water to rice) Assorted vegies chopped fine (I used onion, carrot, zucchini, broccoli and pumpkin) Bring the water, stock cube and soy sauce to the boil then add rice and vegies. Cover and simmer for one episode of 24 or two episodes of the Henderson Kids (on dvd, if watching telly then adjust for ad breaks). Silverbeet Paneer cheese from the Indian shop. Chop the silverbeet and cheese then stir through and heat. Add a dash of sweet chili sauce. I've got heaps left over so I'm going to stuff it in some capsicums tomorrow night and cook them for dinner. I'm also want to experiment with roasting the vegies separately then adding them with fetta instead of paneer cheese.
::29.4.07::
Yesterday I went for a run, the first real run in weeks. Not just a walk with some run breaks but proper running. It felt good. I've missed running. I still haven't had any problems with my leg. I think it's finally on the mend. I'm home from housesitting now. Still didn't work out that coffee machine properly. Oh well, it's not like I'm in the market to buy one any time soon. I did get the tv working though - there was a bit of a relay between pressing the buttons on the remote and it actually doing anything so that caused most of my confusion. I'm going to the gym this afternoon. I've been a total slacker lately about the gym and have done no weights in weeks, because of my leg (because that totally stops me doing any upper body work). I'm worried about doing any weights on my legs because my muscles are so out of balance that I don't want to do stuff that exacerbates that. I think I need to get a proper program done. The knitting is going fine, slow but steady. My sister and I have been watching the Henderson Kids while we knit. I used to love that show back in the day and it's hilarious now with all the '80s fashions. My sister said last night that Ben Mendelsohn was the only cast member who is still around but I told that Kylie hasn't done too bad for herself... lol!
::28.4.07::
Yesterday I was in full force binge mode - starting with a trip to the market with some tasty treats. Things didn't get really bad through until I came over to my friend's place to house sit. I didn't really plan my food too much but did bring over a chicken burger, figuring they'd have some vegies I could steal to cook up with it. Except they had NO vegetables at all, I'd forgotten they do all their market shopping on Saturdays. So instead of having dinner, I just picked at things... cheese and biscuit type things. Then I went to the supermarket and got more food - icecream and lollies and other shit. I just couldn't stop eating. I've not been like that for ages and I have no idea why it happened. I guess it was partly boredom -- I couldn't even figure out how to use their tv (they have one of those digital boxes), partly overtiredness causing sugar craving and partly procrastinating because I have an editing assignment to do and didn't want to start. I ate so much food and didn't even enjoy it. I even feel uncomfortably full this afternoon. Not good. Can't do anything about it now except learn from my mistakes. Lately I've been getting into some really bad habits - staying up later and later and sleeping in to make up for it. I want to start getting into a better routine. At least my leg is getting better. I went back to the myotherapy clinic on Thursday and it made the world of difference. She worked a lot on the area where my spine meets my pelvis and it's taken away much of the pain. I still feel a tightness in the area but it's nothing near as bad as it was. ps. I can't for the life of me figure out this coffee machine. I had a crash course in latte making before my friend's left but mine just comes out bitter and tasteless (kinda like me really). Any tips?
::26.4.07::
I went for a run yesterday, well mostly for a walk. I'm totally losing fitness at the moment and need to do something about that. I'm wondering if I should start going for shorter runs more often just until I'm able to cope. I got a running program off Lee that looks really good and I'm keen to get started but want to make sure I can run okay before I start. I'm struggling to run 1 km and can hardly believe I did 15 km at the start of the month. Damn injuries. I have to go to my myotherapy clinic this arvo but am waiting around for someone to ring me back because I might have a job interview later in the day. I wanted to walk into town and also go to the city baths for a swim and some weights work so am getting frustrated trying to work out how to fit it all in. Plus if I have a shower, he'll surely ring back and I'll miss the call. I'm sure he'll leave a message though. Maybe I should just get organised to go into the city and wear my interview clothes to be on the safe side. This weekend I'm house sitting for friends. Should be good - no distractions so I can get some writing done plus my editing homework. And they have a coffee machine, woohoo! The days seem to go by so fast and it's amazing how hard it is to get stuff done. We haven't had a chance to go househunting this week at all. Even though we both aren't working, my sister has lots of medical appointments, physio, etc and I have various things I need to be doing. It's so frustrating. Oh, I went to Lincraft on Tuesday and bought some wool. I'm knitting a scarf - it's purple with blue and red stripes. The blue wool seems to be thinner than the other two colours even though it's the same brand etc (they don't say the ply on the wrapper but I assume it's 8 ply). The past couple of nights, we've been sitting up until the wee hours of the morning, knitting and watching 24. I'm such a party girl! If I had a camera, I'd post a pic. While I was there, I got their newsletter thingo and there's a jumper in it I want to knit. I've never knitted a jumper before but it looks easier and it's really thick wool so should be a speedy project. The knitting definitely helps cut down on snacking. On Tuesday night we down to get coffees and my fave chocobana balls then settled in to knit. I got so engrossed in my knitting through I forgot to eat it and still had it sitting there last night. That's pretty much a miracle for me!
::24.4.07::
Lately I've been having a problem with snacking when I watch TV so have decided the best way to fix that is by starting some craft projects to keep myself busy. Except I've realised it isn't the watching TV that's the problem. Mostly we watch TV on DVD and it's the bit in between episodes where I feel compelled to get up and make a snack. In the past few weeks we've watched three seasons of 24. That's a lot of breaks and a lot of snacks. So far, this is my opinion: Terri Bauer - too dumb to live. Seriously don't go discussing "feelings" with the woman slept with your husband. Doubly so if they are an evil genius. Kim Bauer - should stop pointing guns at people unless she intends using them. Nina Myers - awesome! Tony Almeida - hot. I don't know how all these terrorists get caught because if Tony was my boss, I'd just sit around swooning all day. David Palmer - should spend more time being all presidenty and less time wanting to snuggle with Jack Bauer. Sherry Palmer - what the hell is going on with her hairline, it comes halfway down her face! So last night I started my first project. I'd seen a picture in a knitting book of a beanie with holes in the top for you to put your pigtails through. I call it a Pigtail Beanie. So instead of actually knitting one, I got an existing beanie and unpicked part of the seam then resewed it with embroidery thread. It looks mighty awesome. I've also been wondering if I could shoot someone if I had to. I really think I could. I'd like to learn to shoot. It's been something I've been thinking about for some time. Does anyone know where there is a gun shooting place in Melbourne? I know there used to be one in Essendon but it burnt down so I don't think it's there any more.
::21.4.07::
You wanna know what is the stupidest bit of dieting advice ever? When people say not to go to the supermarket on an empty stomach. What are you supposed to do? Stay at home and starve to death? Order in pizza so you can fill up before you go shopping? I guess some people go to the supermarket before their cupboards are bare but that seems like a waste of time to me. The best advice is to not go to the supermarket at all. Companies spent zillions of dollars getting their products placed in supermarkets so you buy crap that you don't want. You can't resist. They know how you think. Shop at the markets where you get seasonal fruit and vegetables, not 6 month old crap from a cold room that goes rotten a day after you buy it. Where you can joke with the stallholders while they shout the specials of the day. Shop at the butchers where you can buy the meat you want, not a prepackaged slab and where they grind your mince while you wait so you can see what's in it. Shop at the small stores where you don't have to waste hours of your life in a line full of screaming kids because the shareholders would rather have an extra buck fifty in their pockets than pay someone minimum wage to open another register. Sometimes I give myself challenges to see how long I can go without setting foot inside a supermarket. I think my record is three months. Then I had to take my sister to get cheap Lemsip. Supermarkets make you evil and cranky. They put things in stupid places so you can never find them and you wander aimlessly from one aisle to the next. Supermarkets are the epitome of all that is evil in capitalist society. Resist. Fight the power. Eat food that's been purchased with joy. ***
I went for my first run today since being injured. But, damnation, I woke up feeling sore today than I have for a week or so. Not sure if I slept funny or if it's just the result of Thursday's massage. Since I'd organised to meet Simon, I had to turn up. I did a km warm up while waiting for him but we mostly walked. All up I did about 5 km but only ran 2 km of that. There's a big part of me that wanted to really, really push myself. I think that part is closely connected to part that's feeling hella bad about scoffing down all the chocolates Andrew brought over last night. We went house hunting yesterday and found a nice place. We have to put in the application today so fingers crossed. I'd almost talked myself out of moving yesterday - thinking this place isn't so bad - when the owner's son turned up. I was in my room with the window and he didn't know, just came down the side of the house and stuck his head in my window. I opened the front door for him and asked him to never do that again. He blabbered on with some bullshit story and told me if I wanted privacy, I should shut my blinds!!!! I don't even know why he was here - he said he wanted to show the empty room to someone but he had no one with him and the 'empty' room is full of (most likely stolen) office furniture. He went into the room and did something then left. I fully believe that if I'd not been in my room, he'd have climbed in through the window. Now I'm worried about leaving my window open if I'm in another part of the house. I'm also worried about he's storing in the empty room. The sooner I get out of here, the better.
::20.4.07::
Yesterday I was reading a book called 'Do I Look Fat in This?' about body image and feeling fat. The basic premise is that 'fat isn't a feeling', something I've heard before - when we say we feel fat, we mean we are sad or angry or happy, but can't express that, so use fat as a catch-all for our emotional state. I basically believe that but one thing bugged me. She reckons whenever we ask 'do I look fat in this?', we are asking for attention and validation. When someone asks you that, you should respond by asking them how they really feel. Now I don't know about you, if I ask someone if I looked fat and they started asking me about my feelings, I'd feel like giving them a knuckle sandwich. But then, I can't remember ever asking if I look fat in something unless I want to know if I look fat (actually I'd be more like to ask - 'do I look okay?' as in do I have something wrong with my outfit that I can't see for myself). Maybe I'm not a real girlie girl but I ask that question wanting an honest opinion before I leave the house, not reassurance. The other thing that struck me while reading this book is that fat is one of the few words left you can use to hurt someone. Call a woman a slut or a bitch or princess nowadays and they are more likely to take it as compliment than an insult. So many words that were once had the power to insult have been reclaimed, how do you put someone down? You call them fat. Telling someone they are a bitch is weak, but change that to 'fat bitch' and you get a reaction.
::19.4.07::
One of the best things about being an older sister is that you can con your younger siblings into all manner of shit, just to see if they are gullible enough to fall for it. It never gets tired. Like the other day, I talked my sister into letting me cut her hair. Trouble is, the last laugh was hers because, unbeknownst to myself, I'm an awesome hairdresser. She reckons it's the best haircut she's ever had! Then I decided to cut my own. It's a lot harder cutting your own hair than your sisters because you have to look in the mirror and do everything backwards. Considering I can barely reverse a car, that's not an easy task. And when you're cutting your own hair, it matters if you stuff it up! I was much more tentative about hacking into it and doing fancy layering shit when I did my own so it looks okay. I can run again. I have to take it easy this week - about 50% of my normal training schedule - but I can do it. That makes me happy. I want to try to get some swimming done this week too. And keep up the walking.
::17.4.07::
Have you ever been walking down the street, feeling rather good about yourself, and you've noticed some guy sitting at the lights watching you? You think to yourself - he's totally checking me out because I'm hot. A couple of days later, you feel like shit. You're walking down the same street and see the same guy in the same car doing the same thing. You think to yourself - he's grossing out because I'm a total bush pig. Exactly the same situation, the only thing that changes are the thoughts in your head. The truth is he could be thinking you're hot, he could be thinking you're a bush pig, he could be staring idly into space while he thinks about shoes with zippers, he could be wondering where you got those fabulous shoes and do they come in his size. So often we put thoughts into other people's heads. We second guess their reactions to us based on nothing much, just a reflection of our own opinion of ourselves. It's easy to say we don't care what other people think of us but I don't know... I think it's only human to want to be liked and admired and found attractive. It's hard coded into our DNA, survival of the species and all that. At the same time we seldom get an honest opinion - some people (the good ones) are happy to tell us we look fabulous all the time, others can only see our faults. Even when you look in the mirror, your view is distorted - it's so easy to focus on the bad bits or the good bits, not all the bits at once. And so much of what makes us look good can't be seen in the mirror. It's in the attitude, the way we move and the way we respond to others. I read a quote from a wise woman the other day - 'My only goal is dress cute and not look like everybody else'. Well okay, it wasn't a wise woman, it was Paris Hilton. But, say what you like about the girl, she really does know how to flaunt what she's got and convince the world through the force of her personality that she's hot. My goal for the week is to be gorgeous - convince myself and convince the world.
::15.4.07::
As far as house hunting goes, we'll definitely be looking. I'm just not sure how we'll go - the rental market is meant to be hell at the moment and since neither of us are working it's going to be tough. Still we can only look and apply and see what happens. I guess the reason I think the burbs are quiet is because I used to live in Ormond which was a very quiet suburb. Everyone in our street had young kids. Of course it's probably changed a lot now because those young kids have grown up now. Still it would have to quieter than here - we have all the revheads from all YOUR suburbs driving up and down our street. I had this plan. I was going to start taking down license plate numbers then finding where they lived then going around and playing loud music outside their bedroom windows while they were sleeping. Revenge - it rocks. Of course most of them prolly still live at home with their parents but I think the parents have to take some responsibility anyway. If Andrew bought himself some V8 car with a huge subwoofery sound system and went hooning around in it, he'd have me to answer to in a mighty scary way. Not that he'd ever do that because he's not into all that macho dick-measuring bullshit. And he's far too cheap to buy a car. Since I can't run this week, I've been trying to walk every day but it's hard. Well I find it hard. I like walking but only if I have a reason for it. Walking around willy-nilly doesn't motivate me (running willy-nilly is another story). So yesterday I decided to walk into the city and swim a few laps at the City Baths. I kinda got distracted by Borders and by the need for one of those cute new 60s style dresses (lots of looking, no buying). Still I managed 8 laps (it's a tiny pool) and about 6 km walk. When I got home, I raced to Preston market thinking it finished around 4.00. Got there at 3.30 and it was all being packed up and closed. It shuts at 3.00. I walked around to see if any of the stalls were open late and one of the dudes packing up tried to sell me a bag of carrots. Since carrots were the only vegie I have lots of, I said no. He kept dropping the price from $1 to 10c... you can't say no to a 10c bag of carrots. Then I got my wallet out and he said I could have them for free. I made a pot of carrot soup for dinner last night - yum.
::14.4.07::
Today I spend some time browsing on realestate.com.au. There's been much talk about the rental crisis in Melbourne - rent prices getting higher and places hard to find. Still a girl can dream. When I've thought about moving, it's been to a flat in the inner suburbs. I love the inner burbs and love being able to walk to the city and most other places I have to go. If I did that, I'd be paying a lot more in rent to get like a tiny bedsit. That'd mean no housemates but I'd still have people around me plus cooking and sleeping in the same room - ick! Another option would be to move further out and rent a house with my sister. Still problematic since she's a bit dodgy with money, but we'd have a whole house to ourselves. We could even get a three bedroom place. We've been talking about it and dreaming. How sad is this? I'm so used to living in this hole that the things I'm dreaming about are things most people take for granted - like having an oven. OMG I could bake stuff and make casseroles and pies and all manner of things. I could roast vegies without doing it in shifts like I have to with my tiny toaster oven. Being able to put my kitchen stuff in the kitchen and my bathroom stuff in the bathroom. All my cookware is in my room so the housemates don't a) use it and not wash it up and b) wreck it. My fridge is in my room as well. Every time I cook, I forget stuff and have to make multiple trips from the bedroom to the kitchen. Off street parking. The thought of off street parking is enough to give me a tingly glow. I've never had it except once when I didn't have a car. Peace and quiet. I'm worshipping at the altar of peace and quiet at the moment. It's not just the housemate issues, it's living on a street where every wannabe stud in Melbourne has to test out their engine revving and doof music speakers every frigging weekend. I've always been scared of the burbs and all that silence but right now I think I could handle it. Financially I think we could do it, if we get bond assistance and some friends to help with the moving. I wouldn't have to pay to have my stuff in storage. I'd not have to put with the insane tantrums of my current landlords. I'd not have to dodge housemates when I don't feel like talking to them. I would have to pay electricity and gas bills and all those kind of things though.
::13.4.07::
Because I've been all miserable and grumpified this week, I've neglected to mention the goodness in my life this week. 1. My friend bought a new bike and, since they now have a few bikes, he's offered me the old, old one. It's a girl's bike and used to be his sister's. Woohoo! Free bike! Now I just have to get it home. I'll walk or run over to their place and ride it home but I'm awful scared since I'm a totally rubbish bike rider. Luckily it's all along the bike paths so no need to go near cars. 2. I had to go into DJs yesterday and ended up getting freebie samples of Clinique - their 3 step skin care range. I tried it today and already feel more radiant. This reminds me - I must buy a foundation. I've not had any for about a year and have been using a combo of tinted sunscreen and cover stick if I absolutely need wear makeup at all. 3. I'm winning the family footy tipping. I rule, they drool! And I have to get in all the gloating while I can. 4. Even though I pigged out over Easter and did no exercise, I didn't put on weight. I have no idea how this can be so but I'm not complaining. Maybe I didn't pig out nearly as much as I thought - I only had 2 Humpty Dumptys with chocolate beanies and, okay, far too many hot cross buns. 5. My landlords seemed to have forgotten they were going to increase our rent. I'm sure they'll remember eventually but so far, so good. 6. My awful housemate goes home to his family in Moe most weekends so I'll get peace and quiet for a few days. Btw there is no point trying to get revenge by waking him because he seems to have a preternatural ability to not sleep. He gets home at 2.00 am then gets up for work at 6.00 am. I don't understand. 7. I'm getting a cheque for one of my stories soon. Got an email about it today asking if I wanted the money via Paypal. I'm not sure about Paypal though, I've got an account but I can't log into it despite resetting my password twice. I think a nice paper cheque will do me fine. 8. I'm wearing my favourite skirt today. Sure it's a size 20 and I've had to take it in with safety pins - I give the slatternly a bad name - but it's my fave and I felt like wearing it. One day I'll get it properly taken in. 9. Coffee. Coffee is always one of the good things in my life.
::12.4.07::
I'm feeling much more chirpy today. This is despite last night... I just can't NOT bitch about this. My housemate had a friend over and they were running around the house (well more like smashing in his case, he's a huge guy and it's like some giant thundering through the house every time he walks) and she kept yelling in this annoying high pitched voice. I wanted an early night because I was so tired so headed to bed. Then got up and yelled at them for being so noisy. The housemate grunted at me and said they were about to go out. A few minutes later, he thundered down the hallway and slammed the front door. I went to bed and an hour or so later, they came home. Shitfaced. She was crying and apologising then yelling for a chuck bucket and the dramas went on all night. I'm so sick of it. If it was a one-off because he had a friend visiting then fair enough but he comes home late every night, stomping through the house and slamming doors. I don't think the concept of other people ever occurs to him and I think he's got a drinking problem. I'm thinking about cutting a hole in the floor boards in the hallway and making a spiky trap for him to fall in. Just enough for him to injury himself cos I figure he's so stupid I can keep doing that for weeks before he realises. It might work because talking to him sure doesn't. So anyway the good stuff - I had my myotherapy clinic today and they said it was free! I love free. That gives me the extra money to spend on good things for myself. My leg feels much better now but she said to not run for a week then to ease back into it. The problem is with my pelvis being all tilted wrong and causing my hamstrings to shorten. I also have issues with my piriformis muscle (???). Anyway I feel heaps better after she poked and prodded me. I'm going back next week so she can do it again. I must confess, I went to the gym last night to do a boxing class but it was cancelled so I ran a little bit on the treadmill.
::11.4.07::
I've been feeling really uggh lately... anxious and stressed and icky. Not like anything's really wrong, but nothing's really right either. Not working and not having money and all manner of things all tied up together, plus I've not been able to write for the past month or so. I feel like that bit inside me where the words are has all dried up and every time I think about writing, I just want to curl up and have a nap. Since my leg/hip problem, I've not even been able to go running to de-stress myself. It's just like a big uggh hamster wheel. Tomorrow I'm finally going to the myotherapy clinic to have my leg looked at. Hopefully they'll be able to tell me something concrete. I can't stand wishy-washy medical advice. I don't want to be told to wait and see how things "feel". I want to be told YES I can run and not do any damage, or if not that then be given an exact date and time. I'm starting to think I should have gone to the doctor at least a week ago. I've finished watching all five seasons of Angel - and now I've started watching 24. I've not seen it before it's definitely not helping the stress levels! Just finished watching season 1.
::7.4.07::
Sometimes I do some really dumb things. I had to go to Preston Market. I have friends coming over for dinner tomorrow and wanted the homemade pasta they sell (I won't eat other pasta now because it's totally inferior). Normally I avoid the market on Saturdays because it's a madhouse but couldn't make it earlier in the week so I got up at 7.00 planning to be there before everyone else except everyone had the same idea and there was no parking at all. Finally I got a park and went to the pasta stall. Last night, before I went out, I took all the money out of my purse except enough for a drink and I'd forgotten to put it back!!@! Oh noes! I went back home and got back in bed. I ended up going back this arvo and it truly is like an insane asylum. But fun, if you're in the right mood. I got heaps of vegies for next to nix - including 2 big bags of grapes for $1. I've soaked a huge container of grapes in Cointreau ready for dessert... yummo. I also got masses of capsicums so think I'll roast them to make the pasta sauce. I got everything I needed for dinner, including wine, 750 g of homemade gnocchi and a tub of really good shaved parmesan for under $20. That is super cheap and makes me happy. Then I got a $4.90 box of little cakes too (for now, not for dinner). The band last night were tops. The night before had been a sell out show so we went on the right night. Plus we got there just before the band come on. I'm too old now to wait around watching support bands and I find since I don't drink that much any more I get extremely irritated by drunken crowds with all the pushing and jostling. We had this one guy with the world's biggest head standing in front of us. He kept going to the bar then pushing back to the same spot. Oh and doing this stupid dance/sway move so no matter where you stood, his head was in the way. That shit bugs me - if you want to keep going to the bar all night, stand near the bar not in the 2nd row. Other than that though, everything was good.
::6.4.07::
My sister and I are off to see the Lemonheads tonight. I've wanted to get tickets since the tour was announced but couldn't afford it but today we decided - bugger it, we're going to be poor either way. So we have tickets and we're leaving shortly. I heart Evan Dando! Shauna - the guitar game is Guitar Hero and my son has that. I'm the most hopeless ever, I can't even play Ramones songs! AJH - there will be no recording for the internet. I'm not ending up like that Star Wars kid!
You know what rocks my world? Andrew is loaning me his PS2 and he's going to borrow Singstar from a friend. Woohoo... not just entertainment but revenge on the housemates. They totally deserve it. New Guy comes home from work most nights and plugs his acoustic guitar into an amp and plays it. Why the hell would you need to use an amp when you're only playing for yourself? Wanker. And our other housemate has been making as much noise as he possibly can all morning. They can't even walk down the hallway without sounding like herds of elephants. But revenge will be mine, oh yes it will....
I went to the session at the City Baths tonight. No one else showed up for the run except Simon and I so we had a one on one with the run leader (well two on one to be exact but that sounds vaguely dirty). She said there were a few routes we could run including Princes Park. After we finished screaming, we told her we've run there a bit too much lately. We could have done some speed training which would have been great - I've never done anything like that with someone guiding me - but we weren't quite up to it so we did a run to Flagstaff Gardens some stretching and then a couple of laps and those things I've totally forgotten the name of where you do silly looking running with high knees and stuff, then a couple of laps and back. The staff at the City Baths were fantastic. I dunno if it was because of the open day and not many other people showing up or they are just always uber-friendly. We went to check out the gym and the nice man gave us an Easter Egg each. We got a pass for next week so I'm planning to try out some classes - definitely boxing - and use the gym. I've still got passes from when we did the Sunset Series runs as well. Tonight was my first run since Sunday. My hip/butt/thigh has been sore all week plus I've felt sniffly so I've not been pushing it. The hip/butt/thigh problem doesn't seem to be getting any better and not getting any worse. Running doesn't seem to make any difference either. Mum thought it could be my sciatic nerve since it goes down my leg but she told me some stretches that I should have really felt and they did nothing (she has sciatic problems). Anyway, the plan of action is to not push it too hard - well except I want to do a 10 km run this weekend but other than that, easy. Since I can't afford to go to the doctor/physio/whatever, I remembered RMIT has a myotherapy training clinic. I checked it out and it's $22 per session. Even I can afford that, so I'm booked in but they don't reopen until Thursday. I'll be such a relief to get this looked at and hopefully fixed up because it's been nearly two weeks now.
::5.4.07::
I had to rush my post yesterday so didn't get to say all I had to say. One of the things I'm finding hard about looking for work now is that it's been so long that I have a 6 month gap on my resume that I have to explain. When it's only a few months, you can say you've been having a break but 6 months is much harder. I've been saying that I had to look after my sister because she's been sick. It's true even though most of the looking after is telling her to do things herself. Sometimes that's the hardest thing of all. She had to go to an appointment the other day - one of the local hospitals has a Chronic Fatigue clinic to help people learn to deal with the condition. The trouble is the hospital is nowhere near public transport. I told her she'd have to work out somewhere of getting there so she rang them. There's no bus or anything. The receptionist said she could walk the 2-3 kms from the train station! My sister, who is normally not very assertive, actually said to her, 'did you hear me right? I'm asking about the chronic fatigue clinic.' Anyway she went for the appointment and found out there is a service to transport people. Thank goodness. Once she starts the program, she'll be going 3 days a week and I couldn't possibly drive her... not unless I never want to work or do anything else. I think it will be good for her, they do hydrotherapy and yoga and other exercises as well as try to get patients back into work or study. I did my easter shopping this morning. We really only buy token presents for each other because Easter isn't such a big deal for us. I do freak my family out though by eating meat on Good Friday. I have no problem since I'm not at all religious and figure it's hypocritical to have no faith all year then get all religious on Good Friday. If you have faith, then have it; if you don't then don't. Besides I hate fish.
::4.4.07::
I've had a busy week of running around - interviews and errands and stuff like that. I've got another interview tomorrow then I'm going to the City Baths for a run. They are having an open day where you pay a gold coin donation that goes to the Children's Hospital and you can do any of their classes. You also get a week's pass to use their gym. More details here if you are interested. Not sure what's going on with the interview process. I must truly suck at them cos I've still not got a job. It's getting ridiculous - the other day I had to go for an agency interview for a 3 week contract. If I get past that, it's a company interview. Lots of effort for 3 weeks of work!
::3.4.07::
Yeah, I put on weight. Wasn't expecting that after a week of no exercise (other than the run yesterday) and much snack food. It's done and over... time for new resolve. I had an interview today for a short contract in Ringwood. Can you believe I actually had to look up where Ringwood is on a map? I've only lived in Melbs for around 15 years. I knew it was kinda Eastish. Shouldn't be too hard to get to if I get the job since I can take the freeway. Fingers crossed. Tonight was my editing class. You know how they say there are no stupid questions - well who ever said that never met this dude in my class! Actually it's more like that line in South Park - there are no stupid questions, just stupid questions. Every time he opens his mouth, I want to clock him over the head with a blunt object and you can times that to the power of infinity when he does it AFTER the teacher says it's break time. Don't come between me and my coffee. Tomorrow is busy and annoying... got to run errands and it's not just the week before easter, it's also school hols. The world outside my house is feral. Actually the world inside my house is too... the owner's son (you remember from an earlier post where I had to drive his hungover arse home) bought around all this office furniture to store in one of the rooms -- the room that belongs to my housemate who may or may not still live here and who may or may not be in rehab but who is definitely wanted by the police (you may remember from an earlier post where he left his porn in the bathroom). The furniture didn't all fit (it would have if they'd stacked it properly) so some of it is in the hallway. It looks brand new so we pretty much suspect it fell off the back of truck. We are also wondering if they know what's here cos there are some pretty good computer chairs and Andrew needs a new one! Apparently there are going to be finish line pics from the R4tK up on the site tomorrow. I knew I should have worn my sexy, cheek revealing shorts and a full face of makeup like the woman in front of us... she had to be an aerobics instructor, you can just pick that look.
::1.4.07::
Arrgghh, had a lousy night's sleep last night and I want a nap but promised a friend I'd run an errand for him at 4.00 so must stay awake. Therefore this might be a very long and rambling post! I did it, folks. That pesky leg didn't pain at all during the run (the other one did though) and I made it. Before I got injured, my goal was to finish in 100 mins then, last week, I revised that to just finish. I did it in 101 mins so I'm damn happy. I'm actually feeling better post-run than I did most of last week but that might change tomorrow :) The reason for the lousy night's sleep is that I decided since I've had late nights all week, there was no point going to bed early cos I'd not sleep anyway. Then, when I got to bed, my hot water bottle had leaked. Oh noes! So I changed the bed and mopped up the wet spot. But I'd overhydrated myself so had to have a few toilet trips during the night. When the alarm went off this morning, I wanted to turn it off and go back to sleep but forced myself up. Had my fruit muffin with banana and a quick shower then headed over to my friend, Simon's. He had a coffee waiting for me. He rocks. We got his partner Tim to drop us off in the city and walked down to the start. We got to the start, well to the side of the start cos that was the closest we could get, and waited and waited. And waited. Finally we started moving. We were in the yellow zone and assumed there'd be a staggered start but heaps of people from the red zone pushed up in front of us. That was mighty annoying. I don't get it. People nominate on their forms which zone they want to go in so why push yourself up to the next zone? The timing doesn't start until you cross the start line anyway so there's no advantage. We were supposed to start at 8.30 but didn't cross the start until 9.00. Once we got over the start line, most of the red zone people who'd pushed in front walked really slowly, 3 or 4 abreast with their mates, ie. in our way! A heap of them stopped to send text messages or call people on their mobiles. We were very cranky for the first km or so. I had a very weird thing happen at the start. I kept checking my watch, ready to start timing when I crossed the start and a message get up and go flashed across the top where the date normally is. Not sure what that was about. My watch is the one with my polar HRM and, since it's an older one, I'm wondering if I've picked up someone else's message. I've never had messages on my watch before, didn't even know you could do it. So we got started. The tunnel seemed hotter and more airless than last year. I was damn happy to get out into the fresh air. I ran with Simon to the end of the tunnel but my calf was really tight by the 3 km mark so I told him to run on cos I wanted to walk. I tried a few quick stretches but they didn't help. I'd decided beforehand, if I could do 3 km, I could do the whole run cos if my leg was going to let me down, I'd know by then. I hadn't even realised I'd run 3 km until I stopped then saw the marker. That gave me a bit of confidence. It was so disheartening running along the Westgate Freeway and seeing heaps of people already on the Bolte Bridge. Luckily when I got onto the Bolte there were heaps of people still coming behind me so I didn't feel so bad. I decided because of my tight calf to walk the uphill bits and run the rest. For some reason, no matter if I walked or ran, I kept to 7 min/km. Every km marker, I was almost dead on 7 mins without even trying. Well until the last 3 kms. We'd organised beforehand for Tim to wait at the bottom of the Bolte Bridge with gatorade. The whole of the Bolte I kept thinking Tim, Tim, Tim. Drinks and lollie snakes. I saw him and just hurled myself towards him. I stopped for a quick chat and a stretch. I dunno if the sugar hit got me going or what but the last 6 kms went past in a blur. Got to the last 3 kms and it was like .... phhhtt, that's just a lap of Princes Park and took off. Running along Southbank, everyone seemed to be totally rooted but I felt fantastic. I missed the 14 km marker though and thought I had forever to go. I wanted to stop but couldn't so kept running and running, thinking there was a whole long bit after the last turn but no, just a nasty little hill then the finish line. After that I just wanted a water. I joined the rest of the cattle in the line for the goodie bags, expecting there to be a water table somewhere along the way. No such luck. There was a tiny bottle of water in the bags and much advertising material. Not at all worth a 30 minute wait. The organisation at the start and end of the run was definitely the worst bit of the day. I got my bag from the check area (which was the one really well organised bit of the day) then found Simon and went for coffee, catching sight of Linda on the way. I wanted to walk home to stretch out my legs but Simon insisted on the train since he could hardly walk. Damn him. That's what he gets for finishing 20 minutes before me. If I'm stiff tomorrow, I'll totally blame him. So now I'm home and wanting to nap. I think I'll have an easy week this week then start training for the Run to the G.
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MorseyRuns, at
6:17 pm
