A Favourite Birthday Card ...

Collage by Emma!

Also at The Château!

Is this not the cutest mincemeat tart you have ever seen? Do not ask me why Blogger won't take this photo in horizontal format — it shows up as horizontal in every other application I've opened it with!

Did I mention that The Wagon and I will be getting together next Monday! Until then I will Ignore The Scale! However, I did at least get out for a swim yesterday ...

At The Château ...

Also Christmas Day. Click to enlarge.

P.S. That's Ann & Denise in the mirror. Too bad I couldn't get Lise, too!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Santa Louis on Christmas night. Now, what's his best angle? Or the hat's? Click for a bigger pup!

Seasonal Missive ... The Letter

Welcome to Wendy’s World, where what were once Christmas cards have evolved into Seasonal Greetings – if I get them out before Epiphany it’s a triumph!

Somehow here in Ottawa we survived the devastating two month bus strike in the dead of winter last year, followed by the second summer of destruction on Preston Street (and rerouting of my most useful bus), and the third season of destruction on Bank Street. Well, some folks call it construction, but I think that’s pushing it. The summer was awfully rainy, but fall was good. Winter has hit with a vengeance this week – starting us off with 9 inches of snow followed by sub-zero temperatures on the Fahrenheit scale.

It’s been a busy year on the swim front. I continue to help out coaching our masters club Technosport – back to back Canadian champions in 2008 and 2009! I swam well enough at Provincials to pocket a gold medal in the women’s 50-54 100 breast, and some other hardware along the way. Our 4 x 200 free relay team set a new Canadian record, 4 x 100 medley and free relays Ontario records. That was tremendously exciting. At Nationals in Toronto I swam my GUBT (grown-up best time) in the 100 fly which was good enough for bronze, and my first 800 free in a very long time (4th)! Actually, I swam a bunch of other things, too!

Open water season was a 2K, 3K, 4K and 2.4 miler here locally, then a wonderful quick jaunt to New York City. The Little Red Lighthouse Swim (5.85 miles in the Hudson!) was on the agenda for resident New Yorker Jenny, myself and my teammates Fiona (whose husband Bruce also made the trip) and Gen. Jenny and I also had Breakfast Near Tiffany’s, I visited The (Pierpont) Morgan Library, the Museum of Natural History (with Gen), Times Square (also with Gen), Chelsea Piers. We all had a fine Soho loft brunch at Jenny’s Grandpa Gene’s and met her mom Caroline, too.

I tried once again to combine a trip to see Brent with the Pirate’s Week 5K sea swim. The visit was a great success, as you can see from the tri-coloured heron photo I took on Seven Mile beach, but the seas were inhospitable so the official swim was cancelled again! Third time lucky anyone? I did sub in for a missing swimmer in a triathlon relay while I was volunteering with my brother, though! Brent helped me squeeze in a couple of masters practices and swam in the sea two other times (2.5 kilometres, and 1 mile). We may have been to Fidel Murphy’s once or twice, and were also able to spend some time with Gord & Enoka.

Andrea and I continue to enjoy the English Theatre season at the NAC, and the Three Movieteers (Ann, Lise and myself) get out as often as we can manage!

Mom and Dad have made some nice new friends at their northern condo, and are now enjoying significantly better weather than we are in Florida.

Onyx (aka The Boarder) continues to enjoy Life on the Inside, and benefits from wonderful care courtesy of a group of friends and neighbours when I am away. Also from the bones his friends at Luciano’s donate to the Chicken Soup Cause! Some people who don’t know him have intimated he might be spoiled, but he is unclear how they could arrive at such a conclusion!

As always I am grateful for friends and family both near and far, neighbours past and present, and hope that this missive (such as it is) finds you and yours in good health and excellent spirits!

Seasonal Missive ...

The flip side! Also click worthy.

Seasonal Missive ...

One side of my top-folding card. Click to enlarge if you like.

Tuesday Tidbits ...

Well, we didn't quite get to the preview — it was "sold out". So we got a rain cheque for It's Complicated and saw Did You Hear About the Morgans? Really, it was an enjoyable check your brain at the door evening. Of course I could listen to Sam Elliott for a good long while, and Wilford Brimley in a small part always makes me smile. And now we have a film to see on Boxing Day!

I did get the package posted to Toronto (it should arrive today!), and a few more Seasonal Missives sent. One to Faraway Parts Requiring $1.65 in Postage! This brings the sent or delivered total to 38. There are more Missives on the Drawing Board (along with The Boarder), so I will crank up the soundtrack to How The Grinch Stole Christmas and let Boris Karloff enliven my Christmas spirit while making cookies in my Feline Induced Missive-Making Hiatus. He is a good helper in some respects, but not really in the Making of Cards.

In other unrelated news, The Boarder has what he believes is a Healthy Suspicion of Snap, Crackle and Pop. Alright! To the Kitchen!

Monday Miscellany ...

It's a bright sunny solstice, and a little brisk to boot. Go Days! Get Longer! I managed to get three bracelets made this morning while The Boarder was napping — this is Not Something To Be Done While He's Awake. Unless of course, flying beads interest you. The last parcel to be mailed is now packed up and addressed, so I'll risk life and limb and go to the post office this afternoon! Then I'll reward myself and see a movie preview with Walla! But in the meantime, I am beavering away on cards. 38 done, more still more to make, but I think the bulk of it is behind me now.

However, today's postal delivery was replete with irony. The Sears Summer 2010 catalogue arrived.

Go Ahead ...

Reach for the brass ring! If you can carry it off. While I find it delightful, it's truly not something I'd be comfortable wearing.

Yesterday was one of those fine days containing a bit of rushing sprinkled with hours of good food and good company — some old friends, some new friends, some swim chums and some school chums!

A congenial brunch with runners, triathletes and swimmers was followed by some downtown errands. And a brief collapse at home. I should probably blame morning practice for kicking my delicate derriere and not the bustle of the market or the mall.

An evening tree trimming party was preceded by some Bayshore errands. Twenty Seasonal Missives were mailed, one was hand delivered so production must begin anew this afternoon! Some gifts were wrapped, some were given, some received. Days such as that should be cherished, as they are few and far between.

Just Bits ...

Well, I don't know about you, but I could be convinced to kiss this frog! (Hat tip: Outblush.) But not outside. I don't want my lips sticking to anything metal! We are having some awfully brisk weather just now, particularly for this time of year.

After a lovely birthday, much of yesterday was spent cobbling together some Seasonal Missives. Three actually made it into envelopes. Now that's progress. Right?

At last night's Skills & Drills (I also had the keys to practice), an emerging swimmer who has been having great difficulty with open turns made great strides! It was just wonderful! I sure am looking forward to Plant reopening, though. I will have only managed two swims this week myself. The pool is scheduled to be back on track Monday, so cross your fingers, folks!

Shiny Things & Other News ...

The ECT is clearly kicking my butt! Last night's practice was crazy hard, although it should have been easier than it was. I spent the last eight 50's with cramping quads — and the only stroke our lane swam all night was freestyle! And unfathomably, there is light cross training falling from the sky again! Perhaps it will be sweepable.

Air Canada has a quick seat sale on (ending at midnight tonight) for travel within the country, so I bought my ticket to Nationals. And back. Funny how the charges add up, though! Base price of $205 each way, $22 each way to pre-book seats, then surcharges and taxes, it ended up just under $550! But ... direct YOW-YVR both ways, with just a 20 minute hop to Nanaimo.

Now for some shiny things! Here's a rock I'd like to see! I'd like to see these shoes, too, but personally I could only wear them sitting down!

In other news, yesterday I got some paper for the Seasonal Missive, today I will pick up the photos to go with. And some glue sticks. At this rate, I may actually get some done by Christmas!

The Boarder reports he gets extra treats today, as this is the day we celebrate our birthdays! The Boarder five, his most favourite person fifty.

Tuesday Tidbits ...

The cross-training opportunities are supposed to let up for a few days as we hop into the deep freeze until Monday or Tuesday. But I logged an hour this morning, so despite the EPC I must be staying in shape, right? Also on the books today a trip to see Dr. Susan probably preceded by a trip to Staples to buy Seasonal Missive Supplies.

Brent, Jenny and I have just been discussing spherical hiding spots — prompted by this article and this video posted at Boing Boing. The Boarder currently prefers cube shaped hiding spots, but he has not yet been presented with a spherical choice.

Finally, for eye candy this morning, as I am on a Pendant Binge, here's something that folks may find appealing.

And now, off to put a dent in Mount Laundry!

Shhhhh ...

Mr. Sutcliffe's column was delayed this weekend, so today I bring you a run bit along with last week's tri bit I didn't link to earlier.

Two more inches of cross-training fell from the sky yesterday, with another two scheduled for overnight tonight. Happily, neighbours were available to pitch in this time round, so I think I logged only an hour yesterday!

Besides cross-training and grocery shopping yesterday, two of the three movieteers caught The Fantastic Mr. Fox (we had to postpone it from our recent Snow Day), and in a sprint through Holts I managed to grab a tin of Christmas goodies for friends.

When I popped over to Tiffany's web site last week, I had a little surprise. I rather liked this pendant when Jenny and I saw it in person, but really, I had no idea it was onyx! That makes it ever so much more appealing!

I have an errand filled day today, having finally worked through the concept for my Seasonal Greetings, I need papers, glue, envelopes and stamps! Also, I have a few last minute Christmas things to pick up, and all but one package to mail. Shhh. Be very quiet. There is an off chance I'm getting my act together!

Saturday Night's Alright!

Yesterday was a fun-filled and busy one, capped off by a lovely pre-birthday dinner Chez Misses Emma & Margaret. Tipper revelled in what Emma called "The Wendy Treatment" right off the bat. The two-legged folk enjoyed home made tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, chocolate cake with raspberries & whipped cream before heading out to watch the Olympic torch go by. Not too long after we saw it the torch arrived at Parliament Hill. It was particularly good that Emma brought her camera, as I had left mine on the kitchen table! Yes, it's good that my head is attached. Emma made me a beautiful card, and Margaret did a lovely painting for me — you can look forward to seeing them in future posts. There was also a special gift card involved!



The torch going by Somerset & Preston!



Some flags and novelty souvenirs were given out prior to the flame's arrival. Emma took this photo of Margaret and her flag when we got back to their house.

Saturday Snippets ...

I wandered onto the pool deck for practice this morning and looked unhappily at the bulkhead. There it was bang smack in the middle of the pool. Foiled! I was looking forward to longness and got shortness due to an age group meet following our practice. On the up side, I didn't have any trouble making the repeat times on the 50's — even when forced to swim backstroke. And this afternoon I can settle in for a bit and watch US short course nationals on NBC.

In other news, I have at least begun working on my Seasonal Letter. Don't be expecting it to arrive before Christmas, folks! I still haven't bought paper ...

On the weather front, we have an expected high on Tuesday of +6°C (43°F), and a low Friday of -20°C (-4°F). Somehow that seems unfair.

For eye candy today, I bring you a delightful black patent bag by Stuart Weitzman, with lighter lining (black linings = black holes!), and bottom feet.

A Little Linking ...

Some of you know that heart motifs are not my favourite — but I'd probably wear this one. I do after all heart snakes! Or maybe this one? I also heart fan corals. But perhaps not enough ...

Here's something, though, that made Jenny think of The Boarder.

On the swimming front, I can't (or don't want to) imagine the workouts these folks will be doing! And while you're over at The Water is Open, take the time to take the poll on what you think about while open water swimming.

And, in local news, the number 3 bus is finally back on the newly re-opened Preston Street! Although it is clear that the sidewalk and street plow operators are unfamiliar with the new geography of bump-outs!

First Winter Storm — Check!

Snow (22 centimetres) + Winds (up to 60 kilometres an hour) = 5 hours ECT over 2 days. With a couple of assists — better living through chemistry & that new brace.

Good thing I'm standing on the deck tonight!

Oh ... and the event order is up for Nationals. Click here and then on event order if you'd like to see it. At least the 800 free isn't the last event of the day!

Oh! The Weather Outside is Frightful!

Naturally The Boarder is curled up in a nice little ball on a fleece blanket. For me, the first two rounds of ECT this season are in the books, but the winds of up to 60 kilometres an hour (only 50 just now) are sure going to complicate things. Even the squirrels aren't out today!

I swam up a lane (some of the folks I regularly swim with moved with me), thinking I wouldn't have to lead. After warm-up Coach Duane stood in front of us and said, "Someone has to lead this lane. Someone who can COUNT!" Of course, he also meant someone who can use the clock. And do simple arithmetic. Guess who got voted leader? And who was a hurting puppy when we finished it? I got a bit beat up, too, becoming friendlier with the lane rope than I would have liked. It's a little harder to play Dodge Swimmer* with all the lane ropes in. And in an almost unheard of scenario, I got my fingers bent back by someone swimming the same stroke and direction as I was but in the adjacent lane!

On the way home from practice I stopped into the mall and picked up my newly hemmed Lululemon pants (they do the hemming!), and a cinnamon bun, which I truly believe I earned. I'm wearing the Wonder Unders today for ECT!

And as I head out for Round 3 of ECT, I am thinking, I'd SO rather be doing this!



* In a practice situation, Dodge Swimmer is probably played most by the lane leader. It is still much safer though, than people randomly pushing off the wall from various points in a lane swim!

EPC Adventure!

Holy Discombobulation Batman!

Last night Chris and I ventured out to Brewer as a result of the EPC*. I had been warned, as he went last week, that the water was warm and he found turning at the deep end difficult because of an angled depth change near the wall. Well, I can report that the water was more than warm, and I spent most of the night dealing with varying degrees of disorientation.

The lines on the bottom and cross hatches at Brewer are in a fairly light blue, relative to other pools. But still visible. Swimmers use the lines on the bottom of the pool to swim straight, judge position and stay out of other people's way, and use the hash marks at the end to judge their flip turns. We generally look pretty much straight down when we swim! However ... wait for it ... the lanes were SUPERSIZED! They were set up not as singles, not as doubles, but at 1.5 times the width of the lane markings. The idea is to fit more people in the lane and make passing up the middle easier, but I'm not sure it works.

So in this case, you would swim up the wall as usual, turn, and then swim back the lane rope, which is half a lane away from where it would normally be and visually too close to the next line on the bottom. You feel like you're swimming in the wrong lane. Needless to say I was reliably two and a half feet away from the lane rope (so swimming a regular lane width rather than supersized), and feeling mildly disoriented. Also, the backstroke flags weren't up. We opted not to swim on our backs, but it still contributed to a sense of not knowing where I was in the pool, as I usually look at the flags coming off the wall to check my distance.

All in all it was a decent swim considering I never found a comfort level in the water.

In other news, the ECT** has begun. Sweeping only yesterday and today. But the shovel awaits Wednesday's anticipated mayhem. They are now calling for 20-30 centimetres over 24 hours!

* Evil Pool Closure
** Evil Cross-Training, also known as Snow Pushing

BoAA!

Congratulations to those who ran, swam and tried this weekend! On the subject of beginning a training program, here's a bit from the Mope and Wail Globe and Mail. And a tri bit from Mr. Sutcliffe.

Yesterday as we pulled up in front of the house after doing groceries, there was a Canada Post truck idling across the road and a slip of paper was sticking out of my mailbox. I dashed (inasmuch as I ever dash) up the steps, grabbed the slip and marched it over to the truck, and the postman obligingly got my package from the back of the truck.

Some of my facebook pals helped me choose between the one remaining pair in my size in charcoal or the black. Thanks ladies! And so, at 21st Century Mom's request, I bring you my Boots of Absolute Awesomeness (also known as my Birthday Boots) on my own little feet! Many thanks to Miss Esther, Master Edgar and family for providing a fine opportunity to test drive them!



Administrative note: Word verification will be on for a few days to discourage the bots commenting on two older posts.

Winter's Around the Corner!

A green Christmas seems unlikely given the forecast this week! Five centimetres Monday, up to twenty Wednesday, more Thursday, a high temperature all week of zero and lower than average temperatures from Friday onward. Time to break out the Evil Cross-Training Equipment, I guess! I am particularly piqued that Preston Street won't fully reopen till Thursday at 5:00, meaning the number three bus won't revert to its actual route until the week of the 14th, and we likely won't have it for the first snowstorm of the season.

In case you'd like to spend some time this week hunkered down looking at shiny things, I bring you the Neiman Marcus Judith Lieber minaudiere trunk show. I rather fancy the clear and black crystal butterfly bag myself — it will go with almost anything. Except my budget.

Tomorrow, although I won't be teaching, I will once again be toddling down to The Good Companions to share with some of my students and volunteer colleagues the photos I printed from my Cayman trip. So that will be fun! And this afternoon Miss Esther, Master Edgar and family will be hosting a seasonal due, so that, too, holds plenty of promise! And now, to print the grocery list ...

Meet Report

Well, that was ... slow. I just did not get off the blocks with any semblance of speed, and when I did get quicker it was at the end of a 50. In fact, though, especially given how I've been feeling I should not be at all disappointed. Except perhaps in the 100 fly ...

The disappointing part of the 100 fly was the time (1:31.?). I felt tighter in the second 50, but not insurmountably so, and a little tighter still with 12 metres left to go. But that is the first 100 fly I have swum feeling like I could have gone on. All last season the last 5-10 metres have been dicey at best, with the exception of relays when it was only the last two or three strokes my arms were barely coming out of the water. This time I was still swimming fly at the end, not just praying my arms were coming out of the water enough to be legal. And I finished to the wall, I didn't have to glide in. The problem with this one was I just did not go out anywhere close to fast enough. So starting in late December, the plan is to be doing both more fly and harder fly in practice. Apparently I've been too focussed on relaxed fly, to feel like I can do the distance without expiring!

There were just a few heats between the 100 fly and the 50 fly. In the 50 I made a big mental error. I just didn't know if I could put it together after the 100 without hurting too much and suffering the drop of the piano that last little bit. I did not go out nearly fast enough, so what I swam was a 50 fly build. I was much less disappointed in the time of :38.3, but still it was slower than I would have liked.

Yet again, in the 50 breast I just did not get out fast enough. Do you sense a theme building here? However, I'm content with the :43.5 (which is what I went at Nationals), especially given that I've done no real breaststroke sets in practice this month.

The 100 IM was probably the swim I felt best about — a GUBT (grown-up best time) of 1:29.5. And as I don't do backstroke the gliding into the wall part was less a mental error and more an error of inadequate practice.

Then came the fun part — a 4 x 50 free relay with Fiona, her visiting daughter, Kathleen and myself!

And so that is the first meet of the season in the books. As I told one of the emerging swimmers we take the positives from it, learn from what we could have done better, and move on!

Quote of the morning: "I left the practice you wrote on the board and we did it Friday morning. People commented on how my writing had improved." — Coach Duane

Swim Bit!

"I like Duane's practices better. I can't read what's coming next." — LDB

Some people like the legibility of my writing, some don't! Really, I laughed out loud. Last night Fiona and I were joking about our inadvertent tapers for tomorrow's meet — with Plant closed and circumstances what they are our mileage this week has been super low! I have 5,100 in, and she a little less.

However, on the total distance front in the past three Novembers I have swum:

♦ in '07 — 26,350 metres
♦ in '08 — 25,300 metres
♦ in '09 — 39,950 metres

So, at least I have a bit more base this season, right?

Oh, and since September 1, 2008 I've logged 602,778 metres. I ought to earn another cap by spring!

Mostly About Rocks!

Well, it's been a confusing and adrenaline filled morning here at OTDE. I spent a good hour stressing because I walked past the mirror and noted I had one diamond stud on. Also, my sweater was inside out. So after retracing steps several times, and thoroughly cleaning the recliner (where I found one cat toy!), I retraced my steps yet again, and can report that wayward earring is now being cleaned. It was on the bedroom floor, hiding in the carpeting. So now at least, I can feel free to vacuum without looking forward to sorting through what accumulates in the dust reservoir! The Boarder, of course, is Opposed.

I wouldn't be likely to misplace a bijoux made of this rock, though. Even if they cut it up into a relatively large number of pieces! A substantially less expensive rock of the extra-terrestrial sort could also be yours for under half a million euros!

In other news, I have the keys to practice tonight! Should be much more fun than my morning was ...

Just Lookin'!

Just to be clear, I do love Birkin bags. They're just not the most suitable choice for my lifestyle. I sure wouldn't complain if someone gave me one! And although that's not likely to happen, you American readers have a chance to win one! For those of us who must content ourselves with looking, here's a minaudiere that could sure be displayed as an objet d'art. The Boarder, however, doesn't know why I'd do that, when I could be looking at him!



You should be able to click to look at a bigger Boarder.

Tuesday Tidbits ...

Really, my Wildest Fantasy Handbag these days is a woven Bottega Veneta. But I think this comes a close second. And, oh, so much more affordable than a Birkin, no?

On a much more practical note, this week Tony over at SCAQ posted a fine start video — I think it will be particularly useful to my skills and drills crew. Our first meet of the season is Saturday morning!

The Boarder was very interested in licking photographs I had out loose on the weekend while assembling albums. Apparently Blackie's vet's cat has exhibited the same behaviour. (Dr. Plotnick has a blog!)* But you'll have to read the second to last paragraph of this post to verify it. Today, however, a lovely Eastern gray squirrel with striking white ear tufts has been very active which is taking much of The Boarder's attention.

* Hat tip to Jenny!