run away with me

In light of the recent heartbreak and stresses we have endured I have decided to really commit to the running thing. I took myself out Monday night and ran about 3 km. It wasn't a long run but it was a run and I did it alone- my first lone run in more years than I can count. Last night FP and I ran together. We did about 5k together, and she likely did closer to 6 or more! (Cheers for FP!!!) I am really enjoying the freedoms of running. There is no schedule to abide by, if I am running late than I can still get out and do my run without worrying about interrupting an instructor or about not getting a good spot in the class. I don't have to dress up in "designer" workout clothes, I don't have to worry about my messy ponytail looking just right (as the gyms I tended to go to were often fashionable, trendy places where the patrons were sometimes more worried about how they looked on the floor than what they were often doing there-not that I am into all that but they were convenient and usually offered great corporate rates!)
I know it is late in the year to start running and I won't have a lot of time left to get the runs in before the weather turns unbearable to run but I will enjoy it while it lasts.

good bye dear friend

My dear kittie Jamie was an "impulse purchase." I had always loved kitten and wanted one of my own so my dear friend Jill and I went down to the humane society one Sunday afternoon 8 long years ago to pick out a kitty. There were so many to choose from but this feisty black and white one caught my attention the moment he was carried into the viewing room. He was the cutest, friskiest cat I'd ever seen. He was my first baby. I named him Jamie because I always wanted to name my first born Jamie and at that point in my life I was certain I'd never have human babies of my own.
I took him home and for months he slept on my pillow. He was small enough to hide in a tiny paper bag. He was smart enough to get in the elevator of my building and take a ride down to the first floor, where the building super spotted him and brought him back up to me. Jamie was a regal cat, his fur shined and he always took such pristine care of himself.
One things is for sure, he always wanted to be an outdoor cat. I never let him out and often chased him down the block and carried him back inside but he longed to be outdoors, chasing butterflies and falling leaves. This time I just let him go, he ran past me and I didn't chase him and bring him back. I was in such a rush and figured he'd be fine, He'd been venturing out for a few months already and he always came back.

We came home after dinner and I noticed a note on the door. The neighbor said a few kids from the local high school had knocked on the door to say a cat had been hit. It wasn't their cat and they knew it must be ours. We went looking for him right away but couldn't find him anywhere. We called around and nobody had seen him. Finally after searching and searching, flashlight in hand my husband found him lying between two houses. He looked so peaceful. He was gone. I will miss him. He loved me and was so loyal to me. Sometimes he wasn't so nice to other people but he was always loving and affectionate to me. He got me, and i got him.

My dear Jamie. I will miss you always.

A great mistake

Yesterday I was making a tofu stir fry for dinner. In the morning I chopped up all the vegetables. Went to take the tofu out of the fridge drawer only to discover it had frozen into a complete block. I was quite upset because I thought it had been ruined and wasn't sure I could use it when it thawed. Either way I left it in the fridge to thaw out and went to work for the day. After inquiring with a friend at work she said it was perfectly fine to use the tofu once it defrosted and to just press out the water with a paper towel. So i did just that. It was amazing HOW MUCH water came out of the defrosted tofu. ANYWAY to get to the point, cooking it once it was pressed out made SOOO much easier to cook!!! Normally when i make the tofu stir fry the tofu gets all stuck to the pan and doesn't really get crispy...well this time it cooked perfectly, got really brown and crispy. It was DELISHOUS, I was so relieved and very happy!!!

Here are a few pics of dinner in progress

The tofu and onions

Once the vegetables have been added

Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Fall is looming

It is September...ALREADY!!! Where oh where did the summer go??? Each year just flies by so quickly I can't believe more than half of 2010 is gone!!!

Each month on the first I review my resolutions for the year and assess how I am doing so far. Well this year I have actually kept to a few of them with great strength! My most obvious was the goal to lose weight through Weight Watchers. I originally resolved to lose 25 pounds but found that was just a little too ambitious so I re-evaluated my goal and lost a little over 20 which is just fine with me. Now I must learn to live at my new weight without gaining it back and without tracking everything I eat for the rest of my life!! I know how to make healthy choices that work for me...just need to use that knowledge to my advantage!
I also resolved that I would workout daily. I was doing really well on that front-for a while. Then I just fell back into the habit of excuses to avoid exersize. I do take lots of stairs daily and I do walk a lot but not nearly as much as I should or I would like to. For some reason my motivation in this area is a little lacking...need kick in-butt from someone!!
I wanted to start wearing make-up every day. I do. Sometimes it's probably not obvious but I know it's there and I know that without I wouldn't feel half and good as i do!
hmmm.. that is really all i can think of for now.
Just need to put it out there that I will start a more dedicated running program-i will, i will, i will ! I am registering to run with FP at the end of the month and don't want to feel like a complete dork doing it so i must practise! and i will.