Sunshine& swimming

Notice any changes around the old blog? I got bored of my old layout ..considering I've had it for a little over 2yrs, it was to be expected! My new one isn't nearly as nice but it fits the fact that Cape Breton is having a hot, sunny summer so I'm keeping it! Once winter gets here, I'll probably loose my positive perspective and change it to something less happy ;)

I spent most of the nice days slaving away but I managed to get away this afternoon with Penny& Briar for some much needed play time in the water. I'll scatter some of those lovely photos throughout this post. Hopefully, they'll make you smile!

The pups had a serious blast chasing down the balls (and the occasional stick) in the water. Penny has been in the water a lot but this was only Briar's second time. The first time, he was pretty sure Border Collies were not meant for water because sheep don't swim ;) By the time we got to the shore this afternoon, he had completely changed his mind on the whole water thing. They spent about 90 minutes on the shore/ dock chasing things into the water& bringing them back. I think they were also happy to see one another after going almost a week without getting to play together!

Aside from playing with the puppies, I have been SERIOUSLY slacking on my running. I should actually put on sneakers and head out right now for a quick 5k ..key word here? Should. I am debating it but it's 8PM and the other two things who live here are fast asleep+ I just ate an entire thing of Smarties. Both of those facts are important because they are draining my motivation to do active things. Granted, Penny swam the whole afternoon so I suppose her activity quota has been met for the day. I just stood on the shore& watched and/or threw things for them to bring back to me. Does that count as 'active'?

I'm leaning towards no. I am making a pinky promise to myself& the people reading this (hello, empty space!) that tomorrow I will either lace up my sneakers or put on my bathing suit& make an honest effort to be able to finish that Disney half-marathon that's sneaking up on me.. January is still a long time away. I have to just keep reminding myself that I really, really want that finishers medal ..and running is fun. That's a lie I tell myself so I will actually go out the door and put in the effort. Sometimes, Penny gives me her best puppy eyes (see below) and that helps significantly with my running motivation. Because gearing up& heading out for a run actually is one of her favorite activities ..she is a crazy dog.

Linked with Tuesdays Around the World& Tones!

Let's get serious. How do you say no to that face? If anyone has a way, please. Let me know! I've had more almost-late mornings than since before we got her because she also gives me these eyes on early mornings when I'm leaving for work. The eyes say 'Stop doing whatever it is you are about to do. I am more important than that thing. Come to exactly what I wish we were doing. Now please.' I am a genuine sucker. I fall for it every. single. time. I have no willpower.

Aqua Tally

Last week, I received my Aqua Tally! I know you're wondering what exactly an Aqua Tally is, right? Well, it is a lap counter! It is simple concept that works great! You have a plastic holder with a metal rod& then 25 beads on it. The first 4 are one color (bright blue for me!) then the fifth bead is a different color. You can make one bead count for however many laps you want .. from 1 to 200. I made each bead represent 6 laps. Such a keener. I have to admit, counting to six is way easier to keep track of than 60+. I can normally manage about 20 laps before I start to get confused about what number I am on, so only having to count to six was so neat.

I'd swim 6 laps, move a bead to the other end& start back at one. I realized just how badly I was butchering my lap counting when I started to use Aqua Tally. I always used to err on the side of caution when counting my laps, so I'd guess conservatively (literally, I was guessing how many laps I was doing ..probably not the most efficient way to train). Using the counter, I realized how quickly I was flying through my laps. Turns out, I'm actually a pretty fast swimmer. So that was a really fun discovery on my part ..thanks, Aqua Tally!

The only thing that I have to say about this that isn't glowing is that the suction cups on the bottom didn't work for me. They are supposed to make it so that you can stick your counter to the side of the pool. The suction cups on mine didn't stick out far enough to actually suction to the wall. Since I'm super resourceful though, I just laid it flat on the edge of the pool. So instead of it being in the water on the wall, it sat on top of it.

Aside from the disappointment of lack of working suction cups, this thing is great! I've been using it for about a week now& at first I was concerned about how well it would hold up because it looks fairly fragile. It holds up great! I've just been throwing it in my swimming bag along with my towel, goggles, sandals& everything else. The thing is a trooper!

Moral of the story? It is not a high tech gadget but it works great! If you're swimming laps in any amount, having this to help keep track makes a really big difference. I don't think I'll ever be swimming again without it! If you're like me at all& counting laps while swimming is hard, then this is a perfect way to fix that. Overall, I would give Aqua Tally a solid 4.5/5. The only thing that didn't work exactly like I thought it would was the suction cups& in my case, that wasn't a big deal because I just sat it on the pool edge!

Not to mention, it is pretty cute!

Manic Monday

*Rounder is officially back in business. Despite my crazy day, I actually managed to get Sarah's post up! I think this means good things for all future Mondays :) Check it out ..just click here.

Seriously. Today I woke up, realized my pool bag I need for work in Sydney was at the wrong pool on the northside. Fantastic. Opposite direction I needed to head in to get to where I had to be at work in 50 minutes. It was bitter cold out. Then I forgot my sandals so I had to steal a pair from my northside pool. Got to the other pool, hopped in, taught for two hours, hopped out long enough to get a hot shower. After the shower, it was back in the water to swim some laps. I helped a friend with her strokes then swam a few laps but was frustrated by how slowly people were moving in the fast lanes. Then I went with Garret for an afternoon of lazing around. Then I put on another bathing suit, headed back to the northside& went to AquaFit for an hour. Then sauna& a tea to cap the evening off.

Can you tell from my massive block of text that I am so tired. I did manage to get a photo for Project 366 of a candle. It's a decent shot. This one is from yesterday ..can anyone guess what it is?! I also am managing my other task for this year. I got 366 day-by-day calendar& every night when I switch to the next day, I'm writing the highlights (or downers) from my day on the back of it. It is a really fun idea& I have missed keeping a journal regularly. This is a nice compromise since it only takes a minute or two to write out!

Okay. Now I'm off to see if the Lakers game is being played on my TV& probably to crash into bed before the first quarter is over! I hope everyone had a delightful-as-a-Monday-can-be Monday!

So this one time

I decided to try an Ironman training schedule. I mentioned it before and then never actually got any further than printing out the schedule& looking at it thinking to myself 'I'll start that next Monday' ..then Monday would arrive& the cycle would repeat. Until THIS Monday that is. I am officially on the path to an Ironman!

Since I still technically work at the pool (and will be getting shifts soon.. YAY) it means that I can still swim there for free. So I started my evening off by going for a 45 minute run with Tiff& another friend. It was a fun trail run ..felt good to be back out there doing something instead of rotting away inactively. So that's one check mark for the workout for today. Next thing on the agenda? A lot of swimming. Which commences at 7:30PM. Then off for a walk with Crystal. Ahh ..fitness& ripped body? Welcome back to me. You've been missed.

We walked last evening around the new Civic Centre in our town. It was fun& we got to watch some girls we knew play in a girls hockey league. By the end of their practice, we were pretty convinced it looked hilarious& that eventually we need to get involved in one! Or ..we could just skate on the pond that the guy who owns the horses has. I think that's the direction we'll go. Less spectators doing creepy things like taking photos of the unsuspecting ;)

Aside from my excitement over finally starting to get back in shape, I'm currently enjoying some yogurt and next up is cheese. Which has lead me to believe if I ever became lactose intolerant life as I knew it would be over! I love dairy products. I don't even think they are particularly good for you, are they? All I know is thank god for cows!

Since today's post sucked so badly I'll leave you with a promise that tomorrow's will be much, much better ..in fact, so much better that it's not even me writing it! Do I have your interests peaked now?! Prepare to spend tomorrow laughing while reading my blog :) Oh, and I hope your Monday was about as lovely as a Monday can be!