walking – The Daily EO

The Daily EO: February 25th, 2016

Today I walked to a chiropractor appointment, Granville Island and back again to Gastown. If I had just walked to the appointment and back again, it would have been about 6 kms – an early morning walk on a gorgeous day (is 8 am early to people? – I’m unemployed, its early to me). Instead, the walk was about 11 kms because I needed a chai tea – after an embarrassing incident at one of our Starbucks (without any caffeine) about their lack of chai tea bags. (manage your inventory Starbucks – isn’t there a million stores in the city? – walk down the street and borrow some tea bags).

I was on Broadway about 5 blocks from the Granville Street bridge when I realized that I could get the best chai tea served in the city with a walk down to the Granville Island Market. What am I doing futzing around with Starbucks when I could go to the Granville Island Tea Company for a Masala Chai tea with ginger and cayenne?

And as I left the house prior to feeling like eating, I knew the perfect pair with a masala chai is a traditional Jewish farmer’s cheese bagel from Siegal’s Bagels. I even bought 2 extras for “later” and a smoked meat stuffed bagel for Emile.

In the nearly empty market – and that doesn’t happen often, loving this freedom – I watched the boats and water drift by, only leaving after getting attacked by a flock of bold pigeons (people! – stop feeding the the bloody birds!) That 5 km detour was so worth it.

February 25, 2016 Extra-Ordinary: That Bright Spot, just starting to illuminate the dark.

Almost-everything-will-work-again-if-you-unplug-i *quote by Anne Lamott

The Daily EO: May 4th, 2013

A gorgeous day and a forecast of more to come. I awoke determined to find both more items to throw out of my warehouse AND to get outside to run run run. I did the first while I waited for my running partner to get out of bed and get ready. Emile is good at being on time and reliable, but given a fluid schedule, he is the best futzer I have ever met. He could stretch anything into a 4 hour event. But nonetheless we finally got out of the house.

I should mention here that I changed my rules for my running month of May. I am not going to run every day – honestly Self! You are a Materials Manager you are busy – but instead run a cumulative amount for the month. This seems more realistic as I can definitely spend more time on weekends exercising then I can on my 12 hour days spent commuting and working. So, my goal for the month is 130 kms.

But back to Saturday. What a Day! Sunny. No Humidity.

But the Sea Wall was crowded. Really Crowded. I took a picture to show you:

Okay – that actually was a picture of my view at the Vancouver Sun Run, but you get my meaning. There were a whole bunch of people pouring of off the cruise ship and everyone was out enjoying the weather. It made it feel like a race picking your way around people. But I got in 9.2 kms.

Okay – that is another lie. I am a liar. I cannot claim 9.2 kms today. My shins. My poor poor shins. They hate me after pushing through the Sun Run and having recovered yet. So, I probably ran about 6. or 7 and then had to walk – at a lively pace – but walk nonetheless for the rest of the day. There comes a point that pushing yourself is stupid if it is going to result in injury or longer lasting pain.

But it was such a beautiful day that we decided to register for the BMO marathon on May 5th. Because we could. Because we were right there.

Okay – that is another lie. God – what is wrong with me?! There was never any intention of signing up for the marathon or the 1/2 marathon. Instead, we were going to do the 8k, but for some crazy reason whoever was in charge of the race – and it must not have been a sane person – scheduled it to start at 6:30 am. Wha?! The only thing I do at 6:30 is get out of bed into a hot shower. So sorry BMO – and all the charities that you fundraise for – forget it. I am keeping my shins in bed along with my 50 bucks. Because I always sleep with my shins and 50 bucks. Always.

But – the best part about not signing up for the BMO marathon was enjoying the “Expo” and getting free things like health bar samples, yogurt, weird BMO gloves that look like those gloves you buy for exfoliation in the shower rather than real gloves. I must say the Vega booth was pretty cheap on their samples though – you had to go up and request that they cut a little piece of a bar or give a little sip of a drink. If you are giving free samples – then don’t be cheap about it. That’s what I say! Put them out there – share your stuff. Don’t make them beg for it!

Any hoo, back home where somehow it was already 4:45 pm (I blame Emile with his futzing not my walking) to shower and eat healthy things like kale.

Another LIE! I am out of control! Instead, we used my hidden credit card and coupon to buy $2 sweet fries at A&W and since we were there you can’t not have a diet root beer or apple turnover while sitting in the sunshine. (not that I have a hidden credit card normally, it was just tucked away in my running shorts).

So, off we ran to see “The Manor” all the way across downtown as part of the Doxa film festival. It was good – but I found it hard to watch sometimes as I wonder how the director was able to show his family warts and all. (including his own warts). The filmmaker was there, and we joined in a lively discussion after the movie to learn more of his story, and went for drinks with the producers after the show.

Okay. Yep. That too is a lie. We left immediately afterwards – alone – and headed to Chill Winston’s (best location in Gastown), sat outside, had a beer and wine and shared a pizza and watched the world go by.

And that is no lie.

May 4th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: The best day of my life! Okay. No. Really, what I mean, is there are no regrets moving to Vancouver today. And Oh! That heat lamp at Chill Winston’s was pretty freaking awesome with the sun setting and the temperature dropping. And the wine was excellent.

Run Today: 6.5 kms
Cumulative Total: 16.3 kms

The Daily EO: March 30th, 2013

I walked from Yaletown to Gastown to get my nails done. They convinced me not to go with the plain French manicure as I always do, but instead to do something different. So I ended up with a French-like manicure with silver sparkles on it. It might be too much. I’m not sure, but I missed out on pretty sparkly nails and the like due to retardedness in all things pretty growing up. So, I am catching up I supposed. (and using the word retarded in the proper sense here – as in my progress in pretty things was retarded by lack of knowledge and confidence. But do crimping irons count? I was really into that!).

Emile walked down and joined me and we headed to South Granville to do some furniture shopping. Afterall, I am still sleeping with a mattress on a mattress on a floor. But did we buy anything? No – why? Because we are cheap now. I used to be a person who bought things when I wanted without concern – but Emile broke me. Alas.

We then walked back from South Granville to Yaletown to look at my latest favorite shop – Cross Design. Which inspired me for a new look in our living room – not new new, but new and fresh. I’m tired of our things – it’s time for a change. But yet am value conscious – see above – so could be trouble here. I am thinking greys, whites, Provençal with a splash of red? Hello, Craig’s List.

Bought berries in Yaletown and then back home to Gastown.

Dinner was with old friends – our next door neighbours when I was a kid – where we participated in a strange family tradition where our berries and cream were served before dinner. “Uncle Rod” lived next door my entire life before I went to university. He’s 81 now and a little balder and doesn’t see as well, but Uncle Rod was thrilled to see me after almost 10 years.

March 30th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: 12+ kms, nails that sparkle in the sun and reconnection.

The Daily EO: March 2nd, 2013

With some prodding from my husband, I went to bed at 9 pm on Friday and found myself self awake at 6:45 am but feeling pretty well rested. The thought occurred to me to go to the gym and I bounced out of bed and into my gym clothes before I could roll over and snooze that idea away.

By 8:30, had hd run 5 kms, done 120 Russian Twists, pulled 45 lats reps and finished stretching. All that was left was a protein shake and another big glass of water.

I wasted an hour or two doing something on the computer – so wasted in fact that I cannot remember what it was. I went down to London Drugs to pick up a couple of things.

That afternoon – after a break in the rain – Emile and I headed out to do some shopping – well, really browsing at high-end stereo equipment and high-end hand bags. Needless to say, we didn’t buy anything.

March 2nd, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: An agendaless amble through Vancouver’s downtown core with a hot tea in hand.