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The Twelve Days of Gazelle-mas: Day 8 (2011 In review)

Dec 30th, 2011
by gazelle.
1 comment

First of all, I need to mention that I fell asleep about 11:30 pm last night and then: I slept until almost 7 AM! I woke once & briefly about 5, but did not need to get up. I’m sure those of you who aren’t/have never been pregnant (or closely associated with a pregnant person) are not sure why that’s news-worthy, so let me enlighten you.  This is probably the 3rd or 4th time since late July that I haven’t had to get up to pee at least once. I don’t know if you remember me bitching about remodeling our bathroom in August – the month of no running water in our upstairs (read: bedroom adjacent) bathroom. I know you didn’t know I was pregnant, but I was, and holy balls, that sucked the big one.

ANYWAYS – looking back! Such an interesting year. A lot of surprises – mostly  good ones.  How did I do with my 2011 goals, you (probably don’t) ask?

Well – let’s just look at that, shall we?

 

  1. Run a half marathon by the end of June. – FAIL! In fact, I didn’t run a half marathon all year. I only had one run over 13 miles, even. Boo!  However, it took a LOT longer to recover from my foot surgery, and just as I was getting into the swing of things, I got myself all knocked up.
  2. Read 52 non-paranormal romance books, including at least 12 from my Nobel Prize list. – FAIL! I only read about 50 books (not counting textbooks) total in 2011, and only 2 were from my Nobel prize list. There’s no way a majority were not brain candy.
  3. SIRASANA! With no wall support. – SUCCESS! Albeit, briefly. I did hit this pose a couple of times, for short periods of time. This is something I will never stop working on.
  4. Take fencing classes. – FAIL!  Due to school/work/pregnancy, this, too, was put off.
  5. Achieve contentment with my body (which may be a combination of weight loss and muscle gain) – EH??? I don’t know. Pregnancy has really thrown this off.
  6. Take a few risks that may lead to happiness. – SUCCESS! Job risks, Toast risks, getting knocked up risks….
  7. Secret Goal that I don’t want to talk about – FAIL! Job changes really got in the way of this (btw, it involved a career switch, and I did interview for a new job in January/February 2011, and was a finalist, but it was not to be….)
  8. Finalize my capstone paper topic and get ready to finish grad school! – SUCCESS! I have only 7 weeks left until I’m done with grad school! YAY!
  9. 5K PR – FAIL!  Again with the recovery from foot surgery + getting knocked up. 2013 is my new year of the runner!
  10. Successful cheddar cheese! – SUCCESS! I love cheese.
  11. Eliminate all non-mortgage & non-student loan debt. – EH….I am in much better shape now than at the beginning of the year. Of course, I’m sure that having a baby will make all my financial dreams come true, right?

 

Overall – even though it looks like I had an approximate 50% fail rate for goals, I am okay with the ones that are fails. I failed for good reasons (i.e. not pushing too hard during surgery recovery, getting pregnant, getting a new job that changed a few of those goals), and I am pretty happy with my 2011 overall.

I have some of the best friends a girl could ask for – both here in PDX, back in South D, and in the internets, as well as the best architect in the land. I’m having a great(ish) pregnancy, I’m almost done with school, I got a promotion at work (and no longer feel one step away from failure at work), and life is pretty damn good.  There are still changes I want to make with my life and my job and all sorts of things, but overall, I’m generally pretty content.

***First the song, and then I will reward (punish?) you with a photo recap of the year!***

On the eighth day of gazellemas, Amy gave to me:

Eight hours a-sleeping

Seven miles a-cycling

Six yogis posing

FIVE PAIRS OF SHOES!

four pancakes,

three lazy cats,

two empty boxes, and

A Pooh Bear outfit, adorable and twee!

 

January 2011:

February 2011:

March 2011:

April 2011:

 

May 2011:

 

June 2011:

 

July 2011:

 

August 2011:

September 2011:

 

October 2011:

 

November 2011:

 

December 2011:

 

 

I am pretty excited to see what 2012 will bring. It certainly won’t be boring!

 

 

The 12 Days of Gazelle-mas: Day 5 (Shoesday!)

Dec 27th, 2011
by gazelle.
3 comments

Happy Tuesday! I hope those of you who are back to work today are easing back in slowly and not overdoing it.

I am being both more and less productive than I’d like on my days off. I made meal plans for the next two weeks and got groceries, I cleaned up the holiday carnage, I went & checked out the fitness center at the community center where I swim and used their treadmill (which only allows you to increase the speed, and not decrease – weird, right? In order to go slower, I had to hit the “pause/reset” button….that worked fine, but before I knew that was the method, I spent a couple minutes running faster than I’d wanted to….) and the recumbent bike (I thought that might be more comfortable than my road bike on the trainer at home…jury’s still out), and did several loads of laundry.

So far, though, I’ve been avoiding school work and work work….that will need to change tomorrow afternoon.

Not a lot to report today – I’m pleasantly sore: 3 days biking in a row + arm weights & the dreadmill = nice.

AND – because I am talking about exercise here on SHOESDAY, I thought I’d give you the cutest Nikes ever (thanks Auntie Sarah!)

On the 5th day of gazellemas, Sarah gave to me:

FIVE PAIRS OF SHOES!

four pancakes

three lazy cats,

two empty boxes, and

A Pooh Bear outfit, adorable and twee!

 

Weekend in Review – a bit late

Dec 20th, 2011
by gazelle.
2 comments

Yeah – this usually happens on Monday. As it happens, I spent Monday on the couch, moaning dramatically (which did not seem to impress the cats, at least not enough for them to fetch me important things like cocoa or the remote).

I had a great weekend. Really awesome. BUT – I may have overdone it a bit. This is something I struggle with ALWAYS, and especially now.

Anyways – on to the fun!

Friday, I hit the Hatha 2 yoga class with my friend & fellow preggo Emily. It was pretty awesome, although I totally tipped over once. I’d like to blame my balance issues on pregnancy, but am pretty sure that they’ve always been with me. After yoga, we did a 5-mile hike in Forest Park (in 90 minutes, bitches!), and then refueld with brunch at Besaw’s. Yum.

Then I shopped at the Nike Employee Store (Yay!) and picked up gifties for the architect. I also really had to resist buying tiny UO onesies for Alvie. CUTE.

By the time I got home Friday, I was wiped out.

Saturday, I planned on going to the prenatal yoga class, and got up and dressed in my yoga finery. I knew the class was at noon, but just before 10, decided to check to ensure it really was noon and not 11:30 or 12:15 or something. Yeah. It was at 10. I didn’t so much make it. :(   The Wednesday prenatal class that I’d previously attended is at noon. Not so much the weekend one. Oops!

Instead I went grocery shopping and then made a delivery to east Vancouver before heading home to collapse in a pile of sore and mentally prepare for Zoolights! I have never been to Zoolights, even though I actually worked at the Zoo for the first couple of years I lived in Portland AND have been a Zoo member for the entire time. I have worked at the opening night of Zoolights, but never actually went in.

The architect & I met up with friends, and we rode MAX over to the Zoo. It was fun – and I’m glad we went. However, now we know that we ride the train FIRST, and not after walking around. Due to the 1 hr and 20 min wait for the train, we decided to just leave. We went to Mellow Mushroom for dinner (the architect was likely reminded of home, as this is a pizza chain common in the South) and then home to bed.

Sunday was naked santa nut brunch day!  (hee.) Some friends and I got together for brunch (delicious french toast bake, bacon, chocolate croissants, mimosas, OJ, toffee), then a naked lady exchange, then secret santa gift exchange, then the Nutcracker! So fun. (There was no actual nudity – sorry!)

Again, I was totally wiped out, and spent the rest of the day doing….nothing? I don’t even remember. I made chili and cornbread (which was delicious), but am not sure I did anything else.

 

We clean up nice, don’t we? Also, I am short. And blueberry-esque.

Anyways – I have all of next week off, and am planning on sleeping and working on my capstone, and sleeping. I cannot wait. I just need to get through this week of crazy work, and then 11 days in a row of no work! YAY!

 

Happy week! AND Happy Chanukah to all who will begin celebrating tonight!

So tired I didn’t even notice there was no post title for almost 5 hours….

Dec 5th, 2011
by gazelle.
5 comments

Every 2-3 weeks, I get a few nights of weird insomnia. Last time, I was waking up in the middle of the night & being awake for 4-5 hours. This weekend, it was inability to fall asleep. Saturday night, I was up until nearly 6 am, then awake for a half hour from 8-3:30, and then asleep until just after 10.  That did not so much make for a productive Sunday. I pushed myself to stay up all day Sunday, doing important things like “watching Netflix” and “reading” (and making dinner), but not getting anything I’d actually planned to do done. Then, last night, I went to bed at about 9, convinced that I was tired enough that I’d fall asleep instantly. Not so much. However, I did fall asleep right around midnight, so it wasn’t terrible. However, today is not so much an “awake” kind of day.

Friday & Saturday were pretty good days.

Friday morning, I met up with Emily for a Hatha 2 class. I felt pretty awesome about myself after finishing the class, since I haven’t been doing as much yoga the last 4 months or so. Until the teacher said he’d kept it at more of a 1.35 level.

After class, Emily & I continued our day of fun with a 3.5 mile hike in Forest Park – over 600 feet of elevation gain! Go us!

After finishing the hike, I headed out to meet another friend for Mexican lunch! YUM!

Check out these ginormous burritos:

IMAG0678

Even as a ravening pregnant beast, I could barely get through half…it sure was delicious later, though!

 

Friday afternoon was spent working, then relaxing with the architect.

Saturday, I was pleasantly sore from Friday’s exercise. I got up, made pancakes (still obsessed – best meal ever!), did a little work, and then headed over to my friend Lisa’s so she could help me put my marathon shadowbox together. Yes, my marathon was, in fact, over two years ago. BUT – I am not this kind of crafty, and definitely needed help. I think it turned out pretty good!  (Also, she & her husband gave me water and hot chocolate, and cheese and cookies! They are awesome.)

IMAG0681-1

 

Now I just need to find a place to hang it so everyone who comes over knows how awesome I am.

Saturday night, the architect & I went to Laurelwood Brewing for our annual Vinter Varmer beer drinking! Vinter Varmer is my all-time favorite winter seasonal beer. I first had it with my friend Kim in 2006, and she & I did Vinter Varmer days until she left Portland. Now, I go with the architect, take a picture of the beer, and taunt her with the pic of delicious beer text her the photo as a sign of friendship.

IMAG0682 The architect’s beer. Not as taunty this year, unfortunately.

Saturday night was the aforementioned not sleeping, and I honestly did not accomplish anything Sunday. Nada. Zip. I mean, I did make dinner, but it really didn’t turn out well (which is odd, for me – I am usually more than proficient in the kitchen).

I am still tired today, and am having trouble being productive at work. I have meetings from 1-4 this afternoon, and then am packing it up and heading home.

Tonight’s strategy for sleep: Get on the bike trainer for 45 minutes when I get home. Do upper arms weights for 15 minutes. Make dinner. Eat. Homework until 9:00.  Warm Shower. Bed with “Men in Tights” on our new bedroom TV (it’s one of my “fall asleep movies”).  I was thinking of trying herbal tea with bedtime, but (a) I hate tea and (b) Beverages and bedtime do not equal a nice long sleep.

(Pregnancy-safe) Suggestions for getting to sleep at night? I am definitely open to trying new things, here.

Happy week!

December 2011 Goals

Dec 1st, 2011
by gazelle.
2 comments

As always, we start with the recap.

November 2011 Goals

  1. Survive the first 4.5 weeks of my terminal project without going crazy. – SUCCESS! I totally feel not crazy yet! Although definitely getting there. I might be crazy after today, but I made it to December! WOO!
  2. Make lefse! With her! We will have so much fun. – SUCCESS! More or less. We did hang out. And we talked about lefse. And we both made lefse. Just not together.
  3. For reals, get the garlic in the ground & build the cloche – FAIL! So many things; the garden has really taken a back seat. Boo!  It’s supposed to be nice this weekend, so I will plant my garlic then (I have garlic! It just needs to be in the ground, now.)
  4. Visit the daycare that looked awesome on paper (or, the computer screen, rather) and beg them to take my as-yet-unborn child – SUCCESS! We visited the daycare. It was just as awesome in real life as on the internets. We are on the waiting list for September 2012 (i.e. 2.5 months AFTER we need care, but whatevs….next steps – find bridge care for Alvie Bean.)
  5. List one thing I am thankful for every day (thanks for the inspiration, Alisa!) – SUCCESS! If you look at yesterday’s post, you’ll see my 30 days of thanks. I didn’t post every day, but I sure did have 30 things I was grateful for!

 

November 2011 Training Goals

Since I am pregnant, this is harder than usual, but my goal is to work out a minimum of 3 times/week; 30 minutes/time. I had a decent start last night with a trainer ride, although I wasn’t able to hit 30 minutes due to the extreme discomfort of my bike shorts which apparently are not baby bump accommodating. (Why do I never spell accommodating right on the first try? WHY?!?) Any suggestions for bike short comfort? I really don’t want to shell out bike short money for something that I’ll wear for a maximum of 5ish months (I’m pretty sure that biking will not be the first exercise I’ll get back to after giving birth…just a feeling I have). (Also, 5 months? Seriously? That’s it?  ACK!)

I already have a swim date for Wednesday evening, and yoga plans for Friday afternoon, and will try to run on Thursday and/or Sunday…I am hoping to convince the architect to start doing weekly long walks with me on a weekend day. I’m pretty sure I’ll be mostly walking my half marathon, and want to start getting some serious distance on my feet.

Well – semi success. I definitely exercised more in November than I have since July (i.e. before I was/knew I was pregnant). I didn’t hit my non-written goal of 15 hours of exercise for November, but I did hit my written (above) goal of  an average of 3 times/week, 30 minutes/session.  In fact, I hit just over 10 hours of exercise, which ends up being an average of ~21 minutes per day!

 

 

December 2011 Goals

  1. Finish the first half of my capstone STRONG!
  2. Find a daycare for Alvie Bean starting in July!
  3. Enjoy the holidays with a minimum of stress and a maximum of fun! (So many exciting things coming up!)
  4. Purchase and install shelves/storage for Alvie Bean’s room.
  5. Clean out the office and make it more office-y, and less “place where junk goes to die”

 

December 2011 Training Goals

  1. Fifteen hours of exercise-related activity.
  2. A minimum of five yoga classes
  3. Finish my December race. That’s all I want. A finish time.
  4. Fifty miles on the bike (again, minimum)
  5. Convince Alvie Bean that we really do like swimming. (I actually can’t tell if he hates it, or likes it so much that he tries to swim along…either way, it is not the awesome pregnancy workout that I would prefer)

 

Happy 12th month, y’all! Can you believe it? DECEMBER! Where did 2011 go?

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