i've been neglecting you...

but don't be offended, I've been neglecting everything. and by everything, I mean, everything...

the good news:
I've been keeping up with the pantry challenge!! Yay! Things are slowly disappearing over here, and my milk is still coming on a perfect schedule. man, that stuff is REALLY delicious.
the bad news:
I'm eating a LOT of pasta. I made a noodle dish with some rice noodles and a flank steak that was delicious, but it was noodles. I made a big pot of beef-a-roni, not nearly as good as mom's or Americus', but mom made a pot too and gifted it to me. I tried out a Dan Dan noodles recipe, that was delicious, but I made the whole thing of noodles. Its not going away anytime soon. I'm thinking of offering a bowl of Dan Dan noodles in exchange for my walk being shoveled. I bet you all that offer is not taken up any time soon....

Satchel is moving along quite nicely I'm proud to say. Although he still wants to kill the new puppy nextdoor, it could be worse I imagine. We spent a lovely hour Tuesday afternoon romping through the snow, following fresh deer and fox tracks. He was a happy pup. As it turns out though, he's more of a muddy tan color than white. He didn't look so nice against all that white snow and ice. Our last class is today. We have a lot to work on, and I'm not always a good doggy mommy. I just can't help it.

As for me, school is back in session. thats all there is to say for that. but I hope it explains some of my absence.

I'm also back in the saddle, thanks to a lovely little girl I work with. I'm now having dreams of expensive, well-trained horses and perfect, shiny black boots.... So, instead of purchasing a big, well-trained, expensive horse, I've signed myself up for a digital photography class!

As being a new owner of a Nikon D70s I figured I might as well. It starts early people, 9:30am for the next three fridays! Maybe not early for you, but early for me. I hope to bring you some exciting images, but don't count on it. Much like my Dan Dan noodles, I'm sure they aren't in high demand.

Have I mentioned Key West yet?

As for the running? Its slow going people. It is hard to get motivated in this winter weather. I've hopped up there on the treadmill a few times. I even tried out a workout where I increase and decrease the incline every minute. It was sweet and it passed the time. I'm just not motivated. I want to be motivated. I'm trying new music, new workouts, new times, and less lofty goals. I'm also reading this for motivation. But lets all be honest, if you're able to live and run in Hawaii, we would all be marathon runners. But this is not Hawaii, and its cold. So I'm in search of motivation. A lot of motivation. And maybe even someone to yell at me while I'm running on the treadmill. Someone to say, Stop being such a quitter you big baby, seriously, you big baby. I'm just mad, because I worked so hard last Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall. I worked so hard. I was running 9 miles like it was nothing. And now, 3 miles feels like an eternity.

brrrr

man it is cold out! I'm getting a little taste of what it would be like to move to the Canadian Rockies. although today would be warm for them out there this time of the year. oh, but I bet it is beautiful. I bet you too can only imagine what the Canadian Rockies look like right now.... I bet Peyto Lake (see picture to the right) is surrounded by snow covered mountains, and that beautiful glacier fed lake is still that unreal blue. I miss Banff. I'd go back. Right now. Even if it is only 28 F there. oh hey, that is about what it is here too. I bet I could get a flight in no time at all.... Cheap too. I could leave on Monday. I bet round trip is only about $500.

Anyways.

Breakfast yesterday was Kashi Heart - to - Heart Honey Toasted cereal and milk. Lunch was beef-a-roni (which I am almost done with, finally). Dinner was Gordon Beirsch! Thank you Capitals for making me get to have a dinner out again!

Today I had a delicious farm fresh breakfast: A poached egg, slice of toast with creamery butter, and milk (all straight from the farm!). Lunch will be steamed shrimp dumplings. I imagine after work I'll have beef-a-roni. B-o-r-i-n-g.

Tomorrow I have Soupergirl soup! I bet I'll have that for lunch with a grilled cheese!!

Took the treadmill for another spin last night. 4 miles. or 3.67 according to the treadmill. The t-mill says I burned 543 calores, Nike+ says 377. How do I even know which is right....

I'm going to go stare at photos from Alberta while I wait for these dumplings to cook up.... oh canada, our home and native land, true patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts, we see the rise, the true north strong and free!!!!

we didn't ask for this

We're trying. We are doing the best we can.

I love Satchel. He can be an incredible dog. He's also frustrating and sometimes I just hate him. His playfulness and need to be loved are sweet and endearing. His angry barking, aggression towards almost all things, and his inability to snap out of his zone are not. I want to talk to him. I want to ask him what is wrong and what I can do. I want to know what happened to him in those first five months of his life to make him like this. I want to know what I can do to make it better.

Obedience is not our problem. He sits, he stays, he lays down, he bows, he plays dead. Our problems are deeper than that. People cannot come to my house unless he has an established relationship with them, and still, I'm on guard. I cannot let people or other dogs approach him, I do not know what he will do. His separation anxiety is heart-breaking. I am coming home, I tell him. I will be back. I will not leave you, I am not abandoning you. I love this dog. He lays his head next to mine on my pillow, he puts the weight of his body against me. He keeps me warm, he keeps me company.

But this behavior, it is not okay. It is unnerving, and frustrating, and it leaves me in a constant state of turmoil. I do not let my fear show, I do not let my anxiety feed to him. I stay calm, I stay in control, I stay his leader. He does not trust me in that position, this I know. He does not trust my decisions. He does not trust me on those long walks to return home safely. I tell him I do know the way home. I do know what is safe. I tell him his protection is needed and keeps me safe, but I do know what is right:

Be patient, fair, consistent, and kind.

Day 1

The treadmill is up and running!!! Yay!! It took us another 5 hours and probably we could have used a third person, but such is life. It is up and running and I too am up and running. I took a quick jog on it after it was completed mostly to make sure it didn't fall apart, and it didn't.... yet.... I even managed to get Satchel up on it a few times. Not exactly while it was moving, but he did stand on it, so that is progress. When I turn it on, he jumps off the side. I think its the noise, not the movement. Its a cheap treadmill and it sounds like it, too.

Saturday I went for a 4 mile run, or so I thought. I set my Nike+ for 4 miles and hopped on the treadmill. The treadmill and the sensor are not in agreement about time, distance, pace, or calories. So, I'm not sure who to believe. I've chosen to believe the treadmill on calories because it said I burnt 450 calories as opposed to 366 as the Nike+ claims. I've chosen the Nike+ on distance as it said I ran 4 miles unlike the treadmill which claims 3.43 miles. I've calibrated the sensor, so I'm not sure who to believe on this really, but I'm taking the sensor. As for pace, I'm ignoring both. The sensor is never accurate on pace when I run on a treadmill. I was running with the same effort I would outside, if not more, and the sensor claimed I was running a 13 minute pace, but I know i run about a 9:25 pace. Needless to say, I ran. It was 4 miles, and it felt good, and I am a bit out of shape. The Saturday run was only the second in about 5 weeks. Christmas and the New Year held me back, but all it takes is getting back out there just one time. I already feel stronger, swifter, and more focused.

Great Pantry Challenge of 2009 Starts Today!!!

And here you have it people. Day 1 of the pantry challenge. This morning for breakfast, I had half of an "Apple Orchard" English Muffin, some cream cheese, and a big glass of milk!! Lunch will most likely be soup (Pumpkin Bisque) from Soupergirl and some vegetable type thing. Dinner is a date with Americus!!

Monday's are wonderful around here for many reasons. Mostly because its my Saturday, and following closely behind that is my milk delivery every other week!! Satchel wakes me up with his angry barking, which any other day would make me crazy when I'm trying to get some sleep but not every other Monday! That angry bark my friends is the sound of the milk man!

nothing in life is free

good news. the treadmill will be put together friday evening. I am off of work for a hockey game and will have an additional person ready and willing to help lifting and holding and tightening all things that need to be lifted and held and tightened. yay!

First Great Pantry Challenge of 2009 Update!

I am getting a little excited about this people! I think it will be quite fun! I plan on posting little blurbs about my failures and successes. So far, lots of successes (even though it hasn't started yet!!!)! 2 half gallons of milk, 1 dozen farm fresh eggs, 1 loaf of honey wheat bread, and 2 half gallons of apple cider are on their way from South Mountain Creamery!! I have a large package of chicken breasts I purchased on Monday at a GREAT price and they have been frozen individually to assist with dinner from the pantry plans. I also have a pound of ground beef, three-quarters pound of ground pork, a pound of frozen already cooked shrimp, a pound of frozen ready-to-peel, de-veined shrimp all ready to go!!!!

There is lots of pasta, rice, and quinoa. Black beans, great northern beans, re-fried beans. Pasta in many shapes and sizes! Rice, quinoa, and oats! Plenty of ingredients to make granola when I run out of cereal, carnation instant breakfast, and english muffins from Wolferman's. So, things are looking pretty good for the pantry challenge. There is also a plentiful amount of frozen vegetables and potatoes: Ore-Ida Ready-Mash in two flavors, Sour-cream and chive baked potatoes, creamed spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, and green bean casserole.

I've also taken to purchasing soup from Soupergirl so that is an added bonus for my lunches!

I'm getting excited peoples. In about two weeks, Im going to start reaching out for some help. Be prepared.

ridge drive looks a little empty

well people, christmas is offically over at ridge drive. although i've heard a little rumor there may be one more present arriving by mail! also, there are a few gift cards waiting to be spent on things for me and others here at ridge drive. there are also multiple gift cards to multiple very yummy resturants to be used and movie tickets galore.

but

nonetheless, the tree is down. there is a big empty spot where it used to be, and i have to say, it makes me feel a little lonely. when the tree was up, it almost seemed like time stood still. like nothing was progressing. and now its gone. and the big empty hole that is left is just reminding me off all the emptiness everywhere else over here on ridge drive. time passes, doesn't it? you think you can make it stop, that if things just stay the same, if you maybe hold your breath, or do something, it just WILL NOT MOVE. but it does. doesn't it? and it doesn't stop.

The treadmill was brought home last night (thanks to a pick-up that has been living in my driveway!) and lugged upstairs by one small person and one little larger person. fyi, the "heavy-end" of the treadmill out-weighed me. I found this out on the first flight of steps and proved it for sure on the second. Man thought that he could push the treadmill up, if i guided it. Gravity took over when we got to the top of the steps. I leaned all my weight on the box, feet off the floor, and still couldn't tip the box in my favor.

Oh, and my dear friends, when the instructions say "REQUIRES TWO PEOPLE" they mean it. ok? because no matter how strong-willed or stubborn you are and I'm sure you are no match for me, assembly still REQUIRES TWO PEOPLE. My other person today: a stack of books. yes my dear friends, I used a stack of books as leverage for tightening screws and greasing spacers and all that. Despite being so savvy, I have officially reached the point where another person is absolutely, REQUIRED. I cannot stand the treadmill up on its end and hold it, and tighten all the bolts at once.

I am not superwoman.

here we go

Ladies and gentelmen, I am here today to bring you very exciting news!!!

First and foremost, I've purchased this. Now isn't that exciting!! It is something I have been wanting for a while and according to Americus a very worthwhile purchase for many reasons. Better than a membership to the Y. All though a co-worker says of the Y: "You get to hang around and you know, exercise and hang out with all the old biddies." Well, I give gym memberships a big, huge thumbs down and treadmills in your own home a big, huge thumbs up!! Needless to say, I'm not running today. I am thinking about running though. Isn't it the thought that counts?

As for the next announcement (which I also find very exciting!!):

Along with all the interesting news of how far I ran (or not), how long it took, or how long I thought about actually running but didn't, I plan to bring you some other fun things. Of course there will be much talk of my entourage:

I am also bringing you news from what I am calling The First Great Pantry Challenge of 2009!!!

Here's how it will go:

Starting Monday, January 12th I am going to see how long I can eat from the food already in my house without going to the grocery store.

Here are the rules:

1. The Challenge begins on Monday, January 12th at breakfast.
2. Milk, eggs, butter, and bread are allowed to be purchased.
3. Fresh vegetables are allowed to be purchased as well, but only in small quantities and from a farmer's market.
4. Everything else must come from my pantry, refrigerator, or freezer.
5. The Challenge ends when I purchase something that is not allowed.

Thanks to South Mountain Creamery, the milk, eggs, and bread are taken care of!

As for everything else, lets all be thankful I have a killer amount of food in this house.

welcome to the new year

Everyone else is doing it. And I'm sure we all agree that its a little less stalker-ish if I post all the details of my life instead of just reading about yours and then acting like I don't know anything about you while I wait for you to tell me all the things I already know because I read it in your blog.

The main point of this was to keep track of my running. But in all honesty, that is pretty boring. Both to read and to write. So I hope to bring you news of things much more exciting then how I told myself I'd run 15 miles this week or 10 that week and end up doing nothing but sitting at home watching movies and eating ice cream out of the carton.

Here we go.

Happy 2009.