Swim, Work, Run

I didn't make Saturday's KMA like I planned. Had to run to the car dealership to get Joan Jetta inspected. Silly dealership, didn't have that done! They gave me a free detail for my time, though. Yay!

However, I spent most of Friday night and Sunday day nesting- doing some serious cleaning to the house. I'm pretty sure that counted for some calorie burning, right?

Saturday I hung out with the GrandLady. Then I went shopping with JMoo for Husband's Valentine's present. I finally got him one of those fancy black watches he's been dying for. I couldn't find the one I got him, but I looked sorta like this -------> ------->:

Ironically enough, he got me a beautiful white sparkly watch to match. He is amazing, isn't he?

Sunday Hubs got home from work at Anahiem 3 (the motocross race, if you follow that), and we had a lovely evening on the couch- just us and pizza. Perfect.

Today is a LONG work day for me. I got to work at 8pm, and I'll be here until 10pm. Ouch. I had morning lessons until 11am, which is draining, but fun. Afterwards I put in a 1200 yard swim, at a very each pace. My stomach is definitely draging, and my flipturns aren't quite as streamlined. Over lunch I got in a GOOD run on the treadmill. Finally! I hate the damn thing, but a show I love on MTV was on, and I just had to accomplish 45 minutes. I did it, I got it done, and I was over it. It's hard to stay motivated to keep running when your body and mother nature are working against you. I have the Rock the Parkway 10k March 27th, so I'm trying to make sure I'm at least in shape enough to wobble 6 miles. I'm pretty sure it's going to involve a lot of walking (A LOT), but I'm trying to be the fit mom. Thus far, it's working out okay, but I'm no Labor Ready Liz (OMG have you seen her!? Talk about IronMom!).

Later this evening I am teaching another CPR/AED course. Then my puffy butt will drive home and I will go straight to my pillow.

Status:

Good mood. Feels decent. Mood swings possible. Hungry. Happy.

I Can Shout It!

Okay, so I've been holding something back for almost two months now.

One of my most beloved and dearest friends, Julie, is also impregnanted. YAY! Let me tell you how awesome it is to have a good friend along for the ride.

She unfortunately got the pukey part of morning sickness (BTW, what MAN came up with the term, morning sickness? Seriously, it's 24/7), and I got the headaches. I can't wait for her to get to the "better" part that I have reached (or so I am told). She's due Sept 6- which is my husband's birthday. I'm ever so oddly scheduled to go just about on her birthday. See, strange how things work out!

She and I conqured my first triathlon together (Where we met, what love love love), our first "long" bike ride (it was about 12 miles, and we had to stop at mile 5ish because I thought I was going to die), first half ironman, her first marathon, our first Ironman, and my first open marathon together. I'm so excited we get to share this part too. That means, we can run with baby bobble heads together in an Ironman branded running stroller (duh, of course they make those).

So excited. Congrats, Julie and Dan! Love you!

Night Terror

The young man pointed at me, shouting "She's wearing a pink shirt! She's a pink shirt!" I ducked underwater and removed my top, putting the salmon colored cloth under the dock upon which the rat stood. "There!" I said, and pointed down at my.. pink shirt. How the hell did I still have one on? I didn't understand. About then, my husband scooped me up and put me back the kayak we had moored at the dock. We were but one of thousands, if not more, kayaks and row boats hiding under the dock, Bimini tops unfolded, trying to conceal our identities. The Nazi like military that hovered over us in their helicopters scanned our group of frightened refugees. The boat next to us inched out from under the safety of the dock's over hang. It was then I realized this was no ordinary boat. This boat was equipped with machine guns and artillery that would have made a 1940's gangster shiver. I heard myself shriek when the man squeezed the trigger aiming at the hovering helicopters above us. They then returned fire.

My eyes snapped open at the sound of my husband's voice, calling to me from the shower asking about a fresh towel. It took me a minute to adjust, and to realize I wasn't under attack from a Nazi regime, and that, in fact, I was cozied up in my sheets on an overstuffed mattress. It's nightmares like these that I keep having. Every night, something else. Before transitioning to the ocean standoff, I was digging bodies out of my back yard.

A few nights ago, I didn't have a head, and had to carry around my eyes in my hands to see.

Weird.

Par for the course, apparently. Studies have shown that pregnant women are more likely to have vivid dreams, often nightmares, brought on by the surge of hormones. What strikes me is how realistic these dreams are.

Twenty minutes after waking, I was in my laundry room ironing Husband's shirts. He had been calling my name repeatedly, but I never recognized it. Instead, I was lost in comparing my dream to the story line of Inglorious Bastards (One hell of a good movie, might I add). I finished my ironing, and came out of the room. As I turned to close the door behind me, Husband came down the stairs to make sure I was indeed still alive, as I hadn't responded once. He hit the bottom of the stairs as I was turning to make my way thru the room.

He looked at me. I looked at him. There was a pause. His expression was confused, but I know it only mirrored mine. Then I heard shrieking. Blood curdling screaming. It was me! WHY!? I jumped back and stopped. He looked even more confused. Then laughed. I laughed. I cried. I cried harder. He didn't understand why. Why did I scream? Why did I laugh? Why did I cry? The only thing I knew for certain is I was crying because I had piss running down the insides of my legs. Seriously. Husband coming to check on my safety scared the piss out of me.

So here's what I know: I have awful scary dreams that I try to rationalize while preforming household chores. Still lost in thought over scary dreams, Husband comes to check on me. I see him and scream. I start laughing. I am laughing over the ridiculousness of my screaming. I am crying. I am crying because I have pee streaming down my legs.

I have 22 weeks left of this!

A Thursday Open Letter

Dear Groundhog,

I hate you. You may be cute, true. You might be fuzzy, yes. However, if you come out of that effing hole and see your shadow EVER again, I will club you like Canadians going after baby seals. I am growing weary of this weather. I don't fit in my slacks, and they are uncomfortable at best, anyway. I am ready to wear skirts in brightly colored floral prints made of cotton. I am up for smothering SPF 40 all over my face and arms so that I may sit outside and guard my spray ground. I want to wear over sized sunglasses, and flip flops again.

Please, Mr. Groundhog, please. I want to have a reason to shave my legs again.

I would like to see a freckle or six on my shoulder. I want my hair to naturally lighten. I will gladly trade in my yoga pants and over sized hoody for a two piece lifeguard suit again. Buddha Belly and all.

I have lost faith in our weathermen. Can they not change the weather as the go? You, Mr. Groundhog, the see-er of all things meteorological, can you not have some influence? Might you possibly come up and say "Nope, no shadow!?"

Because, my dear friend, if we cannot reach a better solution to this wintry weather blues, I may be forced to find a recipe for groundhog loaf (Which I have found similar here and here). And you, particularly you, Punxsutawney Phil, are quite plump. I'm sure you would make an excellent stew.

Now, do not take vengeance in my threats (PROMISES). I will not be happy waddling around 30 some weeks impregnated in July. Do not give 115* temperatures, because, that too, I will blame on you. And then, sir, it will be much easier to bring broth to a boil.

I feel you may think that even if you are gone, your cronies, the local weathermen, will continue on. I have my own plans for them as well. I would like to mention that if I see another forecast such as this any time before December, Tony Soprano will look like a saviour.

With much love,

Corky S.

Fashion Clean Out and Clean Up

I'm not sure whose song I prefer: Fashion, David Bowie style ("We are the goon squad and we're coming to town!"), or Fashion, Lady GaGa version ("I need some new stilettos, can't walk down the street in those!").

Doesn't matter though. I do love me some fashion. Not that I show it. I don't have the cash to spend on the designer labels, or rather I'd prefer to spend it on sporting goods, cars, and home accessories (and a OB/GYN labor and delivery bill).

Well, tonight is the night where I preform my semi-annual closet clean out. I do this about once every year to two years. Usually it's tossing ratty pieces or things I don't love anymore. Often times I hang on to t-shirts and jeans that I really don't wear but think I might again. Since I have a higher purpose of this clean out- to rid the spare room (AKA my giant walk in closet) of all things (seriously, this will be the baby's room so I have to get EVERYTHING gone), I am doing what I am considering a Holistic Cleanse.

Cleanses are usually done with foods or supplements to rid your system of toxins and waste. Well, this closet and dresser seriously need some ex-lax to get things going.

I will pair down a rather large closet filled to the brim of items that are poorly placed and rarely worn, and a huge dresser filled with size 30-32 men's board shorts (OMG, I used to wear those!?) and race t-shirts to the bare necessities.

I am using Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Elements to lay the base of my wardrobe, well, what's left of it. This will pretty much outline my work and dress clothing. I'll keep the majority of my workout clothes, and the 2 pairs of pre-pregnancy jeans I like the best.

As for the rest, we'll, that shit's gotta go. I'm going to need to do some shopping, which my husband so graciously agreed to do with me. I need to buy one nice pair of preggo jeans and a pair of work slacks. I can make do with a couple pairs of yoga pants and a top or two. I truly LOVE spring and summer dresses, especially long flowing ones, so I can pick up a couple that I can sport now and post baby belly.

I really won't have much left for when I get back to a normal size (which better be by November), so I will need to purchase items that fit as I go. Really, I have a lot of clothes that were great when I bought them... two or three years ago, and now I need to toss them, knocked up or not.

What I will NOT be doing, however, is spending $165.00 on maternity cut off jean shorts. Seriously? WTF?

If I Were a Rich Girl

If I Were a Rich Girl, where would I live? I had some time to kill this afternoon, and decided to browse listings of homes in the Kansas City metro area, and out toward my home in Eastern Jackson County.

Here's my parameters: Must be $1,000,000 or more. I have to have ran or rode past it (or on lakefront properties swam by it), and be able to recognize the home as one I have seen on such trainings. Finally, it must currently be on the market (ya know, in case I happen to be the only survivor to a distant realitive somewhere that is a prince or something... and like tomorrow).

If you click on the price of each home, you'll find a link to the realtor's site.

What I found:




Price: $1,075,000 WHY? Heeelllllo Old Money

5011 Sunset Drive Kansas City, MO 64112 Subdivision: Sunset Hill County: Jackson
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4 Full/2 Half
Square Feet: 4,590

One of Kansas City's most prestigious houses, designed by Mary Rockwell Hook. Fashioned in the Italian Villa Revival style, the house is located in a secluded cul-de-sac, shared by two other Hook houses, and is just a few hundred yards above the Plaza and down from Loose Park. An unusually solid stone house, in remarkable condition for its age.


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Price: $2,499,000 WHY? Has a LAP pool.
5100 Sunset Dr Kansas City, MO 64112 Subdivision: Sunset Hill County: Jackson
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3 Full/2 Half

Spectacularly renovated in 2002, this multi-level contemporary has highest level of finishes found in KC: African lacewood panelling and built-ins, mahogany and honed marble flooring, granite/marble counters, etc...the list goes on and on. Main floor master w/ amazing master bath and closets.

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Price: $1,675,000 WHY? Because my husband dreams to live in a log home, and this is the only I have found that I would truly like to live in.

1515 NE Lake Shore Drive Lee's Summit, MO 64086 Subdivision: Ritter Sub County: Jackson
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 3 Full
Square Feet: 5,600 (approx)

"GREEN BUILDER" Design Award 2009*Colorado Logs*Absolutely gorgeous home with breathtaking water frontage*Extremely well built high efficiency, comfort & beauty. Enjoy all the benefits of Lake Living without that 3 hour drive. Amenities everywhere. Heated floors, dumb waiter Kit to Garage, extensive insulation, extensive details provided in docs.

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Price: $2,595,000 WHY? The outdoor entertaining area.
10 K lake shore Drive Lake Lotawana, MO 64086 Subdivision: Lake Lotawana County: Jackson
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 5 Full/1 Half

A rare opportunity high on a hilltop overlooking Lake Lotawana w/170 ft of shore line, space for 5 docks + 2 boat lifts on deep water location of main channel. Incredibly designed home includes granite & stainless kit, vaulted + beamed ceilings w/4 stone firepls, Grt room of pine logs w/frpl+wetbar,fam rm w/birch bark wall cov. All new marble.
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Price: $2,500,000 WHY? This is only half a mile from my current home, and there's 9 toilets. Nine!
2505 Sw 19th Street, Blue Springs MO 64015
4 br,5 ba,4-½ ba


AMAZING EXECUTIVE ESTATE ON APPROX 6+ BEAUTIFUL PARK-LIKE ACRES BACKING CORP OF ENGINEER'S PROPERTY. THIS ONE OF A KIND MANSION HAS 4 BRS,7 FIREPLACES,5 FULL & 4 HALF BATHS,TROPHY ROOM COULD CONVERT TO INDOOR BASKETBALL COURT, 2ND FULL KITCHEN ON LOWER LEVEL, HOME THEATRE RM, REC RM, FINISHED ROOM UNDER 3 CAR GARAGE, INGROUND POOL W/HOT TUB, LAKE

What's All This Training For?

Really, I'm training for something, or the cause is lost. Why else do I swim, bike and run? What fun is there, if it's not a competition?



No, I'm not looking for an age group win, or a faster split. However, if all I'm doing is "working on fitness" there's nothing to focus on. I need a tangible goal. A race date. In this case, a delivery date, but it's all the same.



I missed both Tuesday and Thursday of KMA last week. Work and out of town visitors kind of got in the way. However, I did make my runs and swims.



Since I actually did sign up for a race , I have devised a training plan to keep me moving. Mostly very short runs of 2-4 miles, and a few "builds" of 5-6. I mean, it's a 10k.


Yesterday morning started out with a little 2 mile run on the treadmill, strike that, DREADmill. I despise this thing. But, my long winter run tights are now a smidge (okay, WAY) too small and I really don't want to run in sub freezing temps. It was supposed to be a 2.5 mile run, but considering I always get the wobbly treadmill (Damn you, #9!) I gave up and got off. I always feel like I have to work so much harder to run on treadmill. Maybe it's focus, but it never feels relaxing.


After I got pissed enough to quit the black conveyor belt of death, I headed to the pool. My usual swim partner Benny wasnt around (I swim with a 13 year old kid, seriously.), so I just put in some time on my own. I wore my HR monitor in the water for the first time this season, or whatever you want to call it, and was sorely disappointed with the results. I usually warm up with 10 x 100's on the 1:30. Easy swim and about 10 seconds rest. Mix in some backstroke. Well, after the first three easy 100's touch about the 1:18-1:20, I looked at my watch. My eyes probably bulged out of my head. 156!? One. Fifty. Six!? No effing way. I'm swimming easy. I could carry on a conversation with lane mates if needed. What the Fvck, Chuck? So, I back down a bit. The next three were 1:20, 1:21, 1:23. Check the watch. One-Five-Oh heeellll no.


Remember this little piece of advise from the doc? "Stay under 145." Looky here, it wasn't easy for me to do while on the dreadmill, but at a whopping pace of 12:35 I could keept my HR at 143. On the bike, I spin easy. Very easy. But I can still modify where I need to. Now, I'm in the water. MY place. Where things come very very easily. I'm practically in a LAYING posistion. How the hell is my HR creeping like that? Whatever. Of course, when I get mad, I want to swim harder. Faster. Pull stronger. Not the answer. I gave up on my warm up, and went into what would be the pussiest main set ever.


Pull a 500. Look at hr about every fifth flip turn. See HR around 150. Get pissed.
5 x 100 IM. Give up on 3rd one because breastroke makes me tired.
Sit on side of pool deck with belly looking up laughing at me.
Roll eyes.
Exit pool.


Remind myself what I'm training for.


For a the best damn delivery the OB/GYN has ever seen, duh. And the healthiest baby. And fastest postpartum weight loss.


And to get my ass back.