Not one cloud. Not one.

Today was an unexpected workout binge. First of all, I worked in kid's church this morning, which I am unashamedly counting as exercise because I ended up doing nothing but chase around toddlers for one hour. Straight. And when I say chase, I mean sprint. But we had so much fun! And they are such good, cute kids and they were playing so well with each other. I think they were excited to have playful attention from an adult at church that they got a little carried away.

After all that, Jami and I rode our bikes from her house to Rice. She lives in Meyerland, so it's an 18-mile round trip bike ride. Oh, and I haven't been on a bike physically since August. And I could not find my regular bike pedals so had to use my clips. Which are not so good for city riding. I fell no less than 4 times. Argh. SO embarrassed.

Did I mention that when we got to Rice we swam? With the team? Long course meters? For the whole hour and a half workout? Which was about 3,500 meters...and then rode our bikes home?

My arms were dead before I even got in the water. I had to write all this down before I forgot because I am about to fall down and pass out. Laundry and chores are just going to have to wait until tomorrow.

In all of the adventures today, I did not see one cloud.

Not one.

Extremely unusual for Houston. But glorious, nonetheless! I attribute this phenomenon to Mom. She is out of town, and of course it is always gorgeous when she is not here. The rain follows her wherever she goes!

Sleepy Dwarf, continued. And the Madness of March...

MPRC ran Sabine this morning.  About 9 miles.  It was a really rough morning for both Yvonne and myself.  Ugh!  She was at a game last night, and I was running around all day, so our legs were shot.  I basically sleep walked for the whole run.  It was pretty painful.  But we did it!  9 miles completed.  We are known as the caboose, but whatever.  9 miles is 9 miles.  I don't care how or when you finish it.

Went to a pilates class afterwords to loosen up and move around some not-so-used muscles.  It was lovely.  But then had errands to do and came home to make food for my father to have on hand to eat (poor man...he doesn't eat unless food is ready to go for him.  I try the best I can to take care of him!)  It is such a gorgeous day outside, I wanted to run out and do something.  But I was dead on my feet, so I laid down.   And was out.  For 3 hours.  Ha Ha Ha.

And now, Dad and I are watching March madness and currently it's K State and Butler.  My Irish were out in the first round.  I really should be more upset than I am, but I am so used to this by now that I am immune.

Columbia's bball team is doing well in the brackets.  And their team is all walk-ons with no scholarships.  That is so awesome.

The English are coming! The English are coming!

Well, not the english. But how else do I get your attention?:)

Hank Paulson IS coming! Tonight! To the Baker Institute! This will be most interesting. I hope the man has some answers rather than vague nothings, which is all I expect at this point.

If there is anything that I have learned from all this education it is this: I don't care how educated you are. You will still make mistakes. Often. And you still will not be able to tell the future. Yet you will still expect to react to the future based on the past.

Haven't we learned by now? *Sheesh*

Anyways, on a happier note: The NYSE came to Rice yesterday. It was an awesome event and simply a delight to have all of our Energy C-suiters come join us at our humble campus. I asked them about America's leadership position in the new millenia based on our tumbling reputation, our debt being bought up, demographics and capital moving from west to east, and our entitled, self-centered society. Of course, it was a precedented tee-up for all of the C-suiters to boost morale and boast about what an awesome country we live in since we had been discussing nothing but insurmountable issues and threats to business. Their comments were pretty awesome. Jim Turley, CEO of Ernst & Young, said something particularly interesting: "America is not a nation-state. America is an idea. Anyone can come to America and immerse themselves and become an American. Nowhere else in the world can a man do this. As long as this is the case, America will be the leader."

Back to the point of this blog: Report for the week:

Monday: Spin - 1 hour; 16 miles; weights; swim - 2,500 yards

Tuesday - Running -5 miles

Wednesday - Swim - 5,500 yards

Friday - Swim - 2,625 yards

Tomorrow; it's time to get read to RUN! AND, I talked to Seth about swimming with the Masters of Disaster. Operation Disaster to 30+ begins next week....

Skinny Jeans

I broke down and went to Walmart to get....I don't remember what, actually. But I did come across $20 jeans. And bought a pair. My jeans are all fraying at the edges, and I am too cheap [OK, too poor] to buy more, so I have just let them rot.

I got Jordache boot cut midrises and they are awesome. And they are actually firm-hugging, so they have a snug fit which I like to wear for lounge clothes.

These are going to end up being my skinny jeans! An unexpected bonus! I went back to buy another pair!

Why am I sharing all of this, and why do you care, you ask? Good question. The answer is you probably don't and shouldn't care. I just came to this realization this evening and had to share it with someone: you.

However, I did make this Walmart-run after the 5 mile run yesterday morning, so technically this is an addendum to a report on my training process. Which is the whole point of this blog.:)

Today was swimming. I think I am ready to join the ranks of the Masters of Disaster. That is the term Seth has coined for those of us on the team who stay until 7:30 or whenever to swim. I think I'm ready for it....I swam about 5,500 yards today. Not sore at all, and it was a blast.

What shall we top this off with tomorrow? Well, tomorrow the New York Stock Exchange will be joining us at our humble Rice campus to be followed by our International partio event, so I will probably take the day off. But look out for Friday!

Today I am Sleepy. Oh, and Sneezy.

Saturday night I [mostly] finished the Advocacy plan assignment for the public policy class I am taking, and lo and behold, Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs was on the Disney Channel! Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What a CUTE movie! You know, I had never actually seen the full fledged film? Shame on me.

Resolved!

Update: Since Sunday's long course workout from the devil-disguised-as-Jada, I have:
Monday a.m. - Spin class; 1 hour; roughly 15 miles
Monday a.m. - Weights (legs)
Monday p.m. - Swimming (short course; 2500 yards)
Tuesday a.m. - Running (5 miles)

I am home writing this and working on other school/extracurricular/personal admin and the like. While I am normally Sneezy dwarf (my lot in life and my M.O. Yes, I have just come to accept it), today I am also Sleepy dwarf. It just might be time for a catnap before the rest of this work gets finished (for those of you reading whom I know are Moms of little ones - I am NOT gloating. Just stating an objective plan:))

This week will be a long one. At least all of the academia work is finished. A few touch-ups here and there. The plan will be:

Cycling - Actually getting on the bike this weekend. Hopefully. 20 miles-ish
Weights - Once. Maybe. Depends on Mom. And it's usually on Thursdays, and I am planning to take Thursday off.
Swimming - 3 practices (I am including Sunday. That would make 4 practices this week.)

Yoga - at least once

Running - long run this weekend (10 miles)

Yup, that'll do it.

So, then.....which dwarf are YOU today?!

Xoxo, :)

Swimming and Submarines

Today is Sunday and usually this is a Sabbath day of rest and I take the day off. But not today! Church was lovely, then after hours and hours at school slaving over my advocacy plan assignment, I crossed the street to go to swim practice to at least move a little bit.

Umm...I did not realize that I would be moving around A LOT.

Practice on Sunday is not only in long course meters, but it is 1.5 hours. We did about 38oo meters, or 4,000 yards. Sheesh. The good news I think that there will be NO trouble getting to sleep tonight!

OK; since you are super, super interested (saracasm!) the practice was:

900 warm up

1000 kick and swim set

1500: 250,150,50,50 - swim, pull, kick

400: 8 50 sprints

200: cool down

It was really windy. But a beautiful day, otherwise. I have tan lines! Haven't seen those in a few years.

Mom and I are vegging on the couches watching the Hunt for Red October. Such an awesome movie. Does it ever get old? Why aren't movies made like this anymore? Pure dialogue; great characters, great plot. Real men with dignity, morals, and strength. *sigh*

Namaste

I think that I am going to take today off. I took yoga for the past two days. I am definitely going to keep doing it because it opens the body up like you would not believe.

Of course, the downside to this is my body hurts in areas that I either (a) have not felt in years, or (b) never knew were there.

I was going to swim yesterday and run this morning. Did I do any of that? Umm, no. I came home yesterday and took a monster 3-hour nap. Got up, piddled around a but, then promptly went back to bed.

Yup, that's the rockin' St. Patty's day I had yesterday, people!

Perhaps the body is telling me something? I would think so. I am pretty sure that I am going to take off today, too in order to physically rest. I will swim tomorrow. I actually have assignments and reading that I need to do, so those will be the projects for today. I'll get my stuff done early and not have to worry about it! That is a fab, fab goal.

There is an ILE (intensive learning experience) all day tomorrow and Saturday that I am taking for class. It will be awesome. I'll swim tomorrow morning before it begins, but that will probably be it for a couple of days. I am being true to my word about not running this week and giving my knee a break (yikes, I really should ice it. Just because I am uber-cautious). I'll get back on the running train next week. Check in again soon,

Namaste!