I made a post wedding resolution to myself to lose weight. I saw myself in the video and in pictures and didn't recognize myself anymore. How long had I been that big? Why did no one politely tell me? How did I not notice it was quite so bad? In Arizona, Joel and I went for a hike. I could barely keep up with him. This was a real eye opener since a few years previously when I was in Arizona had completed a 8 hr hike up the Flat Iron. This is when I really decided something NEEDED to be done. At work, some of my colleagues had decided the same thing and started a contest. We each put in $20 and the person with the biggest percentage loss would win the money pot. I was shy by just over a pound, but was really proud of myself. To come in second place and loose 13 lbs was a huge accomplishment. Well I still have a way to go so I thought another way to incorporate exercise into my daily life would be to bike to work. I headed out one Sunday afternoon while Joel was at soccer to time how long this adventure would take me. To my surprise it was a mere 45 minutes. (driving takes about 25minutes) So I decided this was completely doable. When I bike to work I do not go to the gym in the morning, so I can leave later. While today I must have forgotten how long it actually takes because I arrived at 7:15am. We have access to the PCL wellness center which has a shower so I cleaned up and was at work by 7:30am. However, much to my disappointment, we will no longer have access to the wellness center since they are moving offices into that area. This means no shower, which means I cannot bike to work anymore. I am totally bummed out about that, but I guess it just should motivate me to bike on the weekends.
Chaos was neutered on Friday and is doing really well! We need to bring him back on Monday to have his stitches removed, but from all accounts he seems to be leaving his sore alone and all looks well. He also needs to get his rabies shots and a few other yearly boosters. I want to bring Monster in as well since he has a lump on his back. I first noticed it a few weekends ago, but it has gotten bigger and I am a little concerned. Joel has assured me it is nothing, however I will feel better once a vet looks at it.
Martin (Joel’s dad) has a birthday coming up so we have offered to host a BBQ. I decided I wanted to “theme” the party and have stuff with a traditional Russian cuisine. This started quite innocently as Joel’s family used to live on a farm, so I thought we should cook lamb as a treat. Although I have had a variety of lamb in restaurants, I have only eaten it in shishliki when “homemade”. I thought since I was new to cooking this, I would make shishliki for the family. They could then experience some of the traditional dishes I grew up with from my grandparents, and I could learn to make it properly with my dad. However I thought, why stop there. I could make Kwas (cold cucumber soup) for everyone to try. Most people do not like this traditional soup, but I remember eating jars and jars of it as a kid. My grandma would make it especially for me so it was always in their fridge when I went over. Although I will cut down the recipe since I imagine it may not be a huge hit. I have also found a recipe for Russian black bread that mom and I are going to try and make. There are a lot of ingredients and I never have success with bread, but it will be worth trying. Also on the menu is kubasa, wild mushroom pedaheh, bean salad and a few other little treats I have stumbled across. I am excited to try and explore this type of cooking.
Our fence has been torn down and new posts have been put up. Joel came home to our yard as a disaster yesterday. They left all the mud, limestone, etc. for him to clean up which took just over 2 hours! He is going to start framing up the fence today and our friend Kevin offered to come and help. It has made life very difficult with the 2 dogs, but will be great once it is up. Joel and I tossed around the idea of yesterday of maybe not going on vacation this year and building our deck instead. We still are not sure what makes the most sense right now, since both have their benefits.
I signed up for multiple safety courses today to assist with work. Right now I am helpless to assist Christine with development of new material since I do not have the safety background needed. I am able to design and “market” however we have recently hired an outside marketing consultant agency which leaves me kind of in limbo. To help with that problem I am taking these courses throughout the summer and will use the information to assist with development of safety resources.
Well I am off to work – enjoy!
Peanut & Lady "Bug"
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
CHAOS
MONSTER
MONSTER
This weekend Joel and I spent at Lilac Resort with my parents and our 2 dogs.
For those who don't know, or have never met our 2 boys, we have a boxer named Monster and a mastiff named Chaos. Monster is about 55lbs and almost a year old. Chaos is our newest addition; only 6 months old and weighing just over 100lbs. They are great dogs, but learning from this weekend, they are also a lot of work.
On a normal day, Monster and Chaos are locked in kennels until we arrive home from work. They behave while in the kennels, and there is no destruction to the house upon our return our home. (Some minor exceptions to this apply, but I will save these stories for another time) Joel arrives home first and lets the boys out. He then feeds them, and lets them out again. I arrive home and the boys are free for the night. They can cuddle with us on the couch, or play outside, whatever they choose.
At Lilac, it is not as simple. We don't have the resources there to lock away the puppies properly. The crates are just too big to pack up and bring with us, and they cost about $200 each so buying 2 additional ones to leave at Lilac isn't really an option either. We decided this long weekend would be our trial weekend to see how it went with the 2 dogs. We had to keep them tied up while outside. The dogs don't understand the rope concept and kept getting tangled. Chaos loves the bush, so he would be wrapped up in trees until Joel went into the bush to loosen him out. Monster found 2 teenage boys that he didn't like and kept barking and growling at them when the boys would walk past our site. The final time they past our site they were walking a little black dog. Monster went to meet them on the street (running full speed) and snapped his collar! It did not even slow him down. Joel followed Monster and made him come back into the site.
The best part for the boys about being out there was that we could take them for a run. Joel and I are not runners by nature, but as my dad would say "Ask the laziest guy how to do a task, and he will come up with the most efficient way to accomplish that task". We attached the dogs to their leashes, jumped on the golf cart with Chaos on one side and Monster on the other and started (full speed) ahead on our run. The dogs kept up well, however for Monster it was a jog, and Chaos it was a very fast run. We took them around the "block" 2 times for each run as Chaos started to struggle on the second lap. People were pointing and laughing while we rounded the corners, but it was very successful at tiring them out.
So besides the dogs being a lot of work, I found myself less interested in Lilac as a whole. I think it has reached the point where until I have kids, it has lost its appeal. Although I find the bands enjoyable, this is not reason enough to come out.
I have also been married for 3 months tomorrow!! To think that only 3 months ago we were in Arizona getting ready for my big day! We would have already had my dress purchased, our whole ceremony and dinner reception was done, photographer was booked, flowers had been ordered and rings were in the condo ready for the ceremony. Actually the day before our ceremony we went to the flea market and had a foot detox. We really had no wedding errands by that point. I was just anxiously awaiting the arrival of Sarah and Jay. Once they arrived everything seemed more real. Sarah is Joel's sister and Jay is her husband. I have wed into the best family. I am so thankful as we are all one big family.
Lastly, I have been a vegetarian for about 6 weeks, and love it. Although I struggled at first and still have not found a ton of great recipes, I still feel better. I didn't find it hard to give up meat. Joel is very supportive, but has chosen a diet that includes meat. Unfortunately being a vegetarian does not just mean scrapping the meat off your plate, so I actually have been cooking 2 meals.
For those who don't know, or have never met our 2 boys, we have a boxer named Monster and a mastiff named Chaos. Monster is about 55lbs and almost a year old. Chaos is our newest addition; only 6 months old and weighing just over 100lbs. They are great dogs, but learning from this weekend, they are also a lot of work.
On a normal day, Monster and Chaos are locked in kennels until we arrive home from work. They behave while in the kennels, and there is no destruction to the house upon our return our home. (Some minor exceptions to this apply, but I will save these stories for another time) Joel arrives home first and lets the boys out. He then feeds them, and lets them out again. I arrive home and the boys are free for the night. They can cuddle with us on the couch, or play outside, whatever they choose.
At Lilac, it is not as simple. We don't have the resources there to lock away the puppies properly. The crates are just too big to pack up and bring with us, and they cost about $200 each so buying 2 additional ones to leave at Lilac isn't really an option either. We decided this long weekend would be our trial weekend to see how it went with the 2 dogs. We had to keep them tied up while outside. The dogs don't understand the rope concept and kept getting tangled. Chaos loves the bush, so he would be wrapped up in trees until Joel went into the bush to loosen him out. Monster found 2 teenage boys that he didn't like and kept barking and growling at them when the boys would walk past our site. The final time they past our site they were walking a little black dog. Monster went to meet them on the street (running full speed) and snapped his collar! It did not even slow him down. Joel followed Monster and made him come back into the site.
The best part for the boys about being out there was that we could take them for a run. Joel and I are not runners by nature, but as my dad would say "Ask the laziest guy how to do a task, and he will come up with the most efficient way to accomplish that task". We attached the dogs to their leashes, jumped on the golf cart with Chaos on one side and Monster on the other and started (full speed) ahead on our run. The dogs kept up well, however for Monster it was a jog, and Chaos it was a very fast run. We took them around the "block" 2 times for each run as Chaos started to struggle on the second lap. People were pointing and laughing while we rounded the corners, but it was very successful at tiring them out.
So besides the dogs being a lot of work, I found myself less interested in Lilac as a whole. I think it has reached the point where until I have kids, it has lost its appeal. Although I find the bands enjoyable, this is not reason enough to come out.
I have also been married for 3 months tomorrow!! To think that only 3 months ago we were in Arizona getting ready for my big day! We would have already had my dress purchased, our whole ceremony and dinner reception was done, photographer was booked, flowers had been ordered and rings were in the condo ready for the ceremony. Actually the day before our ceremony we went to the flea market and had a foot detox. We really had no wedding errands by that point. I was just anxiously awaiting the arrival of Sarah and Jay. Once they arrived everything seemed more real. Sarah is Joel's sister and Jay is her husband. I have wed into the best family. I am so thankful as we are all one big family.
Lastly, I have been a vegetarian for about 6 weeks, and love it. Although I struggled at first and still have not found a ton of great recipes, I still feel better. I didn't find it hard to give up meat. Joel is very supportive, but has chosen a diet that includes meat. Unfortunately being a vegetarian does not just mean scrapping the meat off your plate, so I actually have been cooking 2 meals.
Well that's all for now - enjoy!
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