Quick Retrospective!

Can it already be that time of year when we review our annual activities and look ahead to the upcoming year? Yikes!!! Maybe I can crib some of this for my annual festive season letter. Nope, it's still not done. But some of my cards are! That's progress, right?

In the water and on the deck ...

♦ I swam in lovely little local meets and the biggest meet I've ever been to (the World Masters Aquatics Championships in Perth, Australia), and made a quick but very jet-lagged trip to Nationals in Quebec City
♦ I did my first open water season in many years including a very foggy 2K(:50:36), a 3K (:47:47) & a 4K (:66:12), plus the swim leg of a 70.3 tri relay (:34:47)
♦ my GUBTs (Grown-Up Best Times) in the pool continued to drop:
— 50 fly: SCM - :37.85 (:37.39 relay swim), LCM - :38.37
— 50 free: SCM - :33.62, LCM - :35.18
— 100 free: SCM - 1:17.34, LCM - 1:18.52
— 50 breast: SCM - :43.88, LCM - :43.75
— 100 breast: SCM - 1:33.56, LCM - 1:36.71
♦ I enjoyed the increased amount of coaching I did this year (I hope the swimmers did, too!)

In travel ...

♦ difficult to summarize trip of a lifetime 1 — Australia!! But my posts from April through May should give you a fine retrospective.
♦ difficult to summarize trip of a lifetime 2 — hanging with Jenny, Brent, G&E, Mo & Lynne + Stonehouse on Grand Cayman. Novembers posts highlight this one.

In life ...

♦ I have the best friends, neighbours, family & bloggy peeps who manage to be both fun and supportive, and I am grateful for you all!
♦ The Boarder keeps my life interesting — and also thanks his friends for their devotion (and particularly for looking in on him while I was off gallivanting), but would prefer I stick closer to home next year
♦ volunteering at Good Companions keeps things in perspective

So as we head into 2009 I'd like to say thanks to all of you for your encouragement and support, and wish you the best of things in the year ahead! Happy New Year!

Boxed In!

This is clearly an outstanding box. It is good not only for sitting in, but also for attending to important matters such as personal grooming.

While many of us are still boxed into a very tight corner with the ongoing transit strike, I am certainly thankful for teammates' help in getting to camp. But clearly camp is not conducive to blogging!

In happier news, part of the Rideau Canal is to open to skaters on New Year's Day! However there may be some cross-training in the cards for tomorrow ...

Swim Bit!

We at Technosport are now in our annual Christmas Swim Camp Phase. Ten and a half hours of pool time (plus stretching and lectures) over four days. But I'm not swimming. Well, I am. But on my own over at Plant. I'm coaching. Which brings its own rewards.

One of the other swimmer-coaches brought me a surprise last night. I signed on quite late in the season (read: September) for the Masters Swimming Canada Million Metre Challenge. So I figure just by entering my workouts over the course of next year, it'll be easy to move up a level! But here's my prize for entering data:



Things may return to some semblance of normal around here in the not too distant future. There are muffins in the oven as I type. And I may even make cookies tomorrow! With luck ALL the ice will melt today (oh, I could go on about the crazy weather!), and the negotiations to end the transit strike will resume shortly. Please send all available luck this way!

The Boarder will be sad that the number of incoming boxes will be vastly reduced next month, but I'm sure he'll find a way to make due!



Click for a larger cat.

Holiday Bit ...

Memories flood the festive season. They rush in when you expect them and when you don't. You have occasion to visit with people you miss, but don't often see — sometimes by happenstance.

On the 23rd, in light of the ongoing transit strike — don't get me started!! — our ever helpful friend Lise took me to the doctor's and on some errands. The errands took us by the veterinary clinic that our old pal George used to frequent. We could see Shirley behind the counter, so we popped in to wish her a Merry Christmas. Shirley was behind the desk, I think, for George's first visit, so many years ago now. Our conversation naturally touched on beloved pets current and past. When we mentioned Houdini, the other staff person (who was new to me) exclaimed, "I knew Houdini!!! She was big!!!"

It turns out that she worked with one of our favourite people, Daren Auger. You've read about Dr. Daren before, as he was Houdini's v-e-t, and we here at 123 have followed him far and wide for his caring and expertise. Apparently Daren mentioned something very important to this gal about treating Houdini! "Watch out for that tail!!"

P.S. If you click the link and scroll down, Houdini will come into view.

Jingle Bells!

The Boarder and I hope you capture the joy during this festive season. And maybe you'll have a little jingle in your step, too! Merry, merry!

P.S. Special thanks to KD for Christmas collar procurement.

Gingerbread!

Those of you reading this blog today will note yet another pretty red banner on the weather icon to the right of the screen. Honestly, the Weather Gods are Having Their Fun With Us!



Yesterday Misses Emma and Margaret and I had fun of a different sort — with our now Annual Construction Project!



Tipper watched.



(When he wasn't busy with Cat Stuff.)

Bits & Bobs!

This morning Tony over at SCAQ posted a must watch video with a twist for those of us interested in watching the best swimmers race — the absolutely unforgettable Mens 4 x 100 Free Relay from Beijing. But in this version, we get to see the whole race as the underwater cameras did. It's a great opportunity to look at strokes, turns, and outstanding streamline positions coming off the wall!

And in more local swimming news, I am elated to report that Plant Pool has reopened on schedule (holiday swimming hours can be found here), and although the transit strike continues, at least I'll be able to get some swimming in! It'll be a nice easy get back in the swim of things outing tonight ... as I did Evil Cross-Training this morning as well.

Misses Emma, Margaret and myself have big plans for this afternoon — in a couple of hours we will be elbow deep in Royal Icing as we work on our annual gingerbread construction project!

Favourite Christmas Song?

While we were at the grocery store this morning, Norris noted that while stuck in traffic four blocks from their destination one morning this week, his transit strike car pool group asked each other, "What's your favourite Christmas song?"

I think mine has to be Bing Crosby singing White Christmas. Note to the snow gods: This will do though, thanks! After coming in from an hour of Evil Cross-Training (and that wasn't the first round of it today), I can tell you it sure isn't Let it Snow!

Swim Bit!

Coach Duane promised a fun last practice before the holiday break, and he delivered. Note: Fun is not equal to easy! Besides some zippy 50's, and a 10 person relay, we did some widths with a dive start followed by underwater dolphin in streamline to the end. Our home pool is 8 lanes, so that is an 18 metre width. And we played "Duane says" in the deep end. Lest this sound like too much fun + not enough work, when you are playing "Duane says" doing deep water kicking (before you do the dive start widths), let me assure you that work was involved!

Deep water kicking drills involved:

♦ flutter kick hands at sides
♦ flutter kick hands on shoulders
♦ flutter kick hands on head
♦ flutter kick hands above head
♦ sink down, flutter kick self out of water to chest level
♦ dolphin kick in all those variants + sink down kick out to chest level arms above head in streamline!

Duane stood on a block demonstrating appropriate hand position, yelling chosen kick, and whistling start and finish — all "rest" time was flutter kick hands at sides. And no, I have no idea how long that went on for!

A bunch of us then headed to the Lieutenant's Pump for a well-earned brunch, not breakfast, as we had a bonus lie in this morning — practice didn't begin till 8:00! I also had an Alka-Seltzer chaser. Settle, belly, settle!

And now for a complete non sequitur. Yesterday The Boarder decided that the best place for him to hang out was in my chair. I took a series of pictures, but this one makes me laugh each and every time I look at it!



Click for an even better view if you wish.

Not a Portent, Please!!!

"At least," I said to Coach Duane in the car last night, "Plant is supposed to reopen on Monday." Did I mention that this transit strike is absolutely miserable?

"Well," he said, "I was talking to Jacques this morning and he doesn't seem to think it will." Paranoia immediately set in! Jacques is the pool director at Plant.

"He does or he doesn't??" Really, I couldn't believe my ears! Or I simply didn't want to. That's also a possibility.

So cross your fingers folks. Maybe Jacques is being a pessimist and that conversation was no portent!?!

On the up side, we managed to get to practice with time to spare, and I got 1300 in before stepping up on deck to work with the skills & drills folks. And I have a lift to and from practice tomorrow morning, with a post-practice breakfast stop to boot!

In other news, The Boarder has earned himself a new moniker. KD called him a DogCat yesterday, and it is somewhat apt. He showed off his new moves, on a Will Work For Treats Basis. According to KD the cat is smarter than the dog because he holds out for the reward — although she saw that he does Stay at the front door for nothing. He is more than willing to do "Onyx Come" and "Onyx Sit" if I have a treat in my hand. For the record, though, he did it once this morning for some adoration instead of a food reward. And adoration he received, in spades! And now that he is quietly sleeping, perhaps I will try some knotting!

Swim Bit!

It was a very good way to spend the evening of my birthday — at swim practice! Finally a short and sweet swim bit! It was great to be in the water, even if it was a bit more of a struggle than I would have liked. The countdown of days to the reopening Plant Pool continues!

However, a touch of stomach flu for my birthday was not the cap to the evening I had hoped for. Hence aside from the successful inaugural run of my new snow scoop, not much happened yesterday (the region received between 8 & 15 centimetres, and I'd say we were closer to the 15 side of things), and today is unfolding more slowly than usual. On the up side, nice bland food is all carbs all the time! On the down side, I am getting even further behind on this Christmas business — something I wouldn't have thought possible just days ago. For those of you anxiously awaiting a Christmas card, I would strongly advise you not hold your breath!

Birthday Bits ...

I won the phone race this morning. Each year a former colleague of my Dad's and I try to phone the other with birthday greetings first. He turned 85 today! I did not. But as of January 1 I will swim in age group 50-55!

Now we shall see if I can win today's rat race. In an hour or so I will try to execute the Cunning Plan established yesterday. And speaking of Cunning Plans, Norris was successful in his hunt for a reasonably sized snow scoop. Behold the Garant 18" sleigh shovel. Ergonomic handle and everything. There's one on my back deck right now! (For Ottawans looking for a smaller push shovel, this one came from Morris Home Hardware.) I will doubtless be even more thankful tomorrow when it is supposed to snow.

Cross your fingers for me!

Downs & Ups ...

In this case, no news is NOT good news. This is still a city without public transit. And I am waiting for a return call from the city as to why the red "no parking snow removal" signs have now been up for three days.

On the up side, it is a city in which friends are helping each other out. So Norris had two ladies with him at the grocery store yesterday, and is keeping his eyes peeled on my behalf for just the right shovel. I want a little snow scoop. I push much better than I lift. I don't lift well at all. Lise helped me get my shearling coat in to have its buttons fixed — and kudos to the nice folks at Pat Flesher's who did the buttons while I waited* — and some tension rods and sheers so that I could continue to procrastinate on a final window covering decision.

And I have managed to concoct a Cunning Plan so that I can actually go to swim practice tomorrow night. It involves a cab downtown before rush hour, hangin' out in the mall like the cool kids, walking over to the university, and a lift home courtesy of Fiona! Woo hoo!!

* Of course I fell in love with another coat while I was there ...

A Little Luxe ...

A smidgen or two of decadence in the company of friends is a lovely way to lift some of the early winter doldrums. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing André for a couple of hours this week — he is sorely missed.

And although it was tremendously brisk yesterday, there were picture perfect fat flakes falling outside the window where we were seated at Zoe's. AD & Michael treated me to a wonderful birthday tea, and spoiled me with gifts. However, The Boarder points out that an Aerolatte frother is a terrifying device, and if Someone uses it in, say, a cup of hot chocolate, the mug then inspires the same wide eyed level of fear and is best avoided at all costs!

Stair Master!

I have it on high authority that the biggest up side of freezing temperatures (-21°C/-5°F when I got up this morning) is the lure of Sunspot Brushing! However, the days are short, and it takes hours from feet hitting the floor to sunspot availability. This can lead to Some Ennui.

So The Boarder decided that if I am not going to the pool he should encourage me to do rigorous cross-training indoors as well as out. If the ball bounces down the stairs it is important to chase it, then cry because the ball and the cat are now in the basement. Your person can get some exercise, come down, find it and fetch it back up for you. Steadfastly refuse to play with it going up the stairs, so that your person must climb to the top for the game to continue. Repeat as required. Oh The Boarder is a Helpful Sort!

So here we are on day 5 of the transit strike, and it is unquestionably brisk enough outside for sunspots to be enjoyed. But according to the forecast, Things are About to Change. No immediate heat waves, but they are calling for above freezing tomorrow, and bucketing rain on Monday with a high of +10°C (that would be about 50°F). Water + snowbanks. Now, won't that be charming?

Access Denied!

You may have heard we're having a transit strike. Last night coach Duane picked me up for practice. The idea was I would swim a half an hour, then coach skills and drills. But what really happened was we spent an hour and a quarter in gridlock, arrived just in time for skills and drills. On the up side, I will say, we have a great team. People stepped up, stood on the deck for Duane, put a practice on the board, and the skills and drills session was good. But I am woeful. It'll be pulleys for me today!

No Talks Planned ...

Yup. Stopped snowing. And as AD pointed out in yesterday's comments, it seems that we had about 32 centimetres at the airport (that's over a foot of snow). So now it's -17°C (feels like -23°C). That would be +1 and -9°F respectively.

So why is my neighbour across the street out shovelling this morning? The sidewalk plow came by sometime in the wee small hours, leaving that ridge of heavy snow for folks to contend with. I'm not sure if it's cold enough to squeak yet. I'm in no hurry to venture out.

And unless you hear differently, you can assume I'm sticking pretty close to home as the OC Transpo strike continues. I may even be thinking of warmer climes, juggling, and circus acts ...



As usual, you can click for a better view.

Stranded!

On the up side, it has stopped snowing! I was thwarted in my attempt to get to swim practice last night. After 50 minutes standing in the snow I gave up and came home. Tomorrow I fear, I will be sore from cross-training. Several short workouts yesterday followed by 1.5 hours earlier today. The Citizen offered up this little gem on the morning delights. Incidentally, I don't believe for one minute it was only 20 centimetres. I offer into evidence Exhibits A & B. Note that I shovelled the sidewalk, the sidewalk plow has not yet visited. Moving the snow oneself avoids a bigger pile of plow snow at the end of the driveway & walk that feels six times as heavy as regular snow.

And So It Continues ...

Cross-training opportunities are currently presenting themselves. Snow is now falling (we are expecting up to 15 centimetres (say 6 inches, and it is to be heavy), then it is to change to freezing rain this evening (with ice pellets and snow). A total accumulation of 15 - 25 centimetres. Woo hoo! And a transit strike is virtually assured, beginning at one minute past midnight tonight. More snow in store for the first commute of the strike, too. It just gets better and better! Late breaking electronic news has the commute across the river potentially messed up for up two years (the Chaudière Bridge currently out of commission and may require a rebuild) so while I'm not in the best of humour, rest assured I'm certainly not alone!

On the up side, I'll get by with a little help from my friends! Coach Duane has offered to pick me up Thursday night, so I can still coach, and Lise has offered to help out, too. I must say, though, it is particularly demoralizing that Plant pool is closed for annual maintenance while this strike is expected to unfold.

However, in the meantime, today I'll make my way out to get my holiday haircut, see Dr. Susan, and go to practice.

-21°C?

What's up with that? (That would be -5°F.) I guess I'll be really bundled up when I set out to do my errands! Yet to go up to above freezing and provide cross-training opportunities tomorrow and +7°C Wednesday (44°F)!! Then back down to -15°C Friday. I guess those new windows went in the right week! And with the strong possibility of a transit strike beginning at midnight Wednesday, this week could be very high on the craziness quotient!

Mittens & Findings!

If the measure of a Christmas party is lots of great people and way too much food, the Technosport party sure rated! But I was up past my bedtime. Then coaching yesterday morning at 06:30, swimming at 8:00, out for brunch at 1:00, searching out mittens and findings after that, and in bed by 8:00! Today will unfold at a significantly slower pace!

The mittens are plain black ski-type, fleece lined with weatherguards at the wrist, and some fancy thermore insulation. And they happened to be on 40% surprise markdown yesterday! Findings were run of the mill leverbacks and headpins, but I have other fun things stockpiled here so they should turn into neat Christmas goodies!

Today will include grocery shopping, a quick trip to the post office to pick up Mom's gift, and an attempt to get the gifts going to Florida wrapped and ready to mail tomorrow. (There is a slight rush on getting things done early this week, in case the buses go on strike on the 10th.) Oh and a titch of cross-training thrown in!

On Monday I will pick up my boots & purse from the cobbler, and hopefully get some pants in for rehemming (the original hem is too long). Maybe I'll get my shearling coat in to the get buttons done, too.

The Boarder would add that we MUST play on the stairs with a foam golf ball. This activity is right up there with leaping and knocking them out of mid-air! Note that there is already one missing. Someone is playing with them in the middle of the night! Perhaps I should have bought more ...

Howlers?

What not to wear? Yes, it's the club Christmas party tonight, and some will be wearing sparkles, some will be wearing cocktail dresses, and I am completely undecided! Except I'm pretty sure I know what shoes I'll wear. Also, it's snowing big fluffy flakes outside, which means a full length coat if I were to choose a silk dress.

On the up side, the purse and boots that needed a nip and tuck are at the cobblers and will be ready Monday. My Cayman photos are picked up, along with a couple of little albums so they can be stuffed into my purse. I have a Christmas present for Dad on hand, unfortunately Mother's is sitting at the post office waiting to be picked up as I was at the pool when it was delivered.

But naturally the most essential thing is under control: The Boarder has a fresh supply of his new favourite toy (foam golf balls — like Nerf balls for cats!!). Hey, did you know there's such a thing as a Nerf ball howler? Me neither. But there you have it!



On my screen cat toys shown larger than life!

It's Raining Again!

Let's just hope it won't be immediately freezing again! There's a cold front on tap for tonight.

I must say, life here in the political hub of the nation has been interesting of late, and it'll stay interesting for a bit. Add to that the McDonald-Cartier bridge is having some construction done, so is down a few lanes — and suddenly the Chaudiere Bridge is closed so traffic will be as messy as parliament! On a local level, there is also an impending bus strike. Personally, I think what will happen is they will finally open Preston Street, reinstate the number 3 bus to its regular route, then the union will immediately go on strike. Oh, and the long range forecast has 35 centimetres of snow projected for the day before and day of that impending strike.

On the up side, Lise and I ventured out to see Bolt last night, and had a nice lighthearted evening while the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition were airing television addresses.

And my Stingray City video arrived, along with a few Christmas things I'd ordered, so that's happiness inducing!

Take Back the House!

The window folks were here again till almost noon and have since departed, although there's a teensy little outdoor bit left to be done. I think The Boarder is luxuriating in the idea that he and are the only ones here. I still have to run the Evil Vacuum Cleaner, but it can wait. The poor fellow can have a little peace and quiet before that happens!

Let the Sun Shine!

We here at 123 are pleased to report that the windows are in. The workers are still finishing up outside, but The Boarder is no longer being terrorized by loud banging noises or a compressor. For that he's very, very thankful and rewarding himself with a well-deserved nap! Of course there are window covering choices to be made (again) — largely because I am now quite terrified of making a drilling mistake I'll have to live with for 20 years. The molding is much more elegant looking on these windows, so it would be nice to be able to show it off. But naturally, this wasn't something that had occurred to me when I ordered the windows! On the up side, the low-e glass will take advantage of winter sun while I'm making up my mind!

Monday Miscellany ...

I'm glad most of the precipitation that came down overnight fell as water, or there would have been plenty of cross-training to do this morning! There are flakes falling now, but I'm thinking getting to class won't be a huge problem (save that things will have to go in a waterproof container). I think I'll leave early and have lunch there, though, just to be on the safe side. I've been getting my money's worth out of the new red coat ... and it looks like that will continue.

Random note: I was sitting on the pot yesterday (my pre-grocery shopping stop) and the doorbell rang, then someone started banging on the door. This continued. I rushed a bit, got to the door to find Canada Post delivers on Sundays in the pre-Christmas period!

Congratulations to those who toed the line on the weekend, particularly to ultramen Marty & Katy! And I was glad to read Jenny, Brent, JS & JK had a nice trail run.

The regular lap swimmers at the pool were bidding each other sad adieux for three weeks last evening — it is nice to see a loose fraternity of swimmers mesh like that. And despite my congestion (and the lane congestion), I had two good descending sets which was nice. I couldn't quite turn it up the final knotch on the second set, but I'm okay with that.

Duane and I will be discussing the events I will swim at provincials in the next couple of weeks. At provincials there is a limit of 6 individual events, so that influences event selection. Duane has some lofty goals for the club this year, so he will doubtless be interested in events I can score the most points in. I age up to swim 50-54 starting in January, so that also impacts our decisions. Our club is extraordinarily strong in women 45-49 so the past couple of years swimming whatever I wanted was just fine. As my training is split between club workouts and training on my own, it is important I know the events I'll be swimming so I can tailor my workouts accordingly. I have gradually been increasing the amount of stroke swum lately, but much more will have to be done to prepare for March!