My new running coach is a big believer in heart rate training and we are required to gather heart rate data from our first official race (which is a 10k in a week and a half). So I ordered a new garmin with heart rate monitor (through Amazon, but shipping from Beach Camera, so consider yourself warned). Estimated date of delivery: yesterday.
When I got to work first thing, I tracked the package again -- it had arrived in Hutchins, Texas (wherever that is) and had a new estimated date of delivery of Thursday. Sigh. Oh well, at least I'd have it for this weekend and then have a week to play with it before the 10k.
But then yesterday around 10:00, a package arrived at work (I ship things there because of that occasional pesky signature requirement) and the receptionist called me to say it was for me. I went to get it and the box was huge, but light. I opened it -- a messenger bag! Shipped from Beach Camera! To me!
Argh! I looked at the invoice. Bill to and ship to some name I've never heard of with an address in Spokane. The price, something like $25, or roughly 1/10 of what I paid for the watch I ordered.
On closer examination, I see that the invoice number is xxx99, while mine was xxx09, so only a single digit off. MAJOR FRUSTRATION.
I called Beach Camera. On hold for customer service, of course, for about 10-15 minutes, then am told I'll have to return the bag and after they get the bag, then they can send the watch I ordered. They'll email me a return authorization. I wait hours (hoping to take the package to FedEx after work so I can expedite the process as much as possible). Nothing.
I call again and they say there was no request to issue a shipping label. Really? So I'm supposed to pay myself to return their fck-up? The person I called last night said she'd issue a shipping label, but of course that's going to take another day.
I probably should just cancel the order completely and get it from somewhere else, but I can only imagine how complicated that will be. So I have no idea what I'm going to do now. Guess I'll cross my fingers that it will get here by the race.
Such a major disappointment and such a major frustration. Seriously, how hard is it to make sure the name and address and invoice number on the box match the name/address/invoice on the inside????
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Lo Scapolo
A translation of the title, The Bachelor.
My worst TV obsession and a new season begins tonight. Sadly, we'll probably watch and I'll get hooked. I always swear if the first episode is bad, I won't watch the season. The first episode is ALWAYS bad and I ALWAYS watch the season. I can't help it. I also watch The Bachelorette, and I even stooped low enough to watch Bachelor Pad. And my poor husband complains but stays with me while I watch...
Our DVR is way backed up. We're only current on shows through about mid-November, and about a two-month lag is pretty normal for us. We get home from work late enough that we're lucky to make it through a one-hour show before going to bed, and we don't watch every night (and when we do, we also sometimes watch movies). Given the many shows we record, it means we're perpetually behind and slipping further back, but once in a while, we'll watch a ton on a lazy Saturday or something.
My other sad (and some not-so-sad) TV obsessions:
I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant (seriously? but sure enough, some of these stories are compelling, like the woman who miscarried only two of the three implanted embryos, or the woman told she was sterile after chemo, etc.);
Hoarders (I use this show in hopes of getting myself to throw stuff away, but if nothing else, it discourages further accumulation);
The Office (like it, like it);
Ballando con le Stelle (the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars);
Law & Order SVU (used to love it but this season sucks, too message-heavy, but still watching anyway);
The Event (hubby's choice, I like it okay);
The Chase (we mostly fast-forward just looking for scenes filmed in Dallas; they've filmed many times near where each of us work);
Outsourced (have yet to watch a single episode, but have several recorded);
Police Women of Dallas (again, mostly just to see Dallas on screen).
And we also watch the Fox shows on Sundays when we have time (Simpsons, Cleveland show (just started DVRing), Family Guy, American Dad).
My past fave TV shows were Lost, Friends, Seinfeld, and ER for a while. Anyway, for lack of a better topic, and given the excitement and hope I have for tonight's premier of Lo Scapolo, that's all I've got today.
BTW, we watch the regular American version of the Bachelor. As far as I know, there's no Italian version, but wow, wouldn't that be hilarious???!!!
Our Italian vocabulary words for last night are on the list at home, but included fun words such as spatula, affair, unload, dishwasher, and others no doubt (hubby knew those last three, but I didn't). Thankfully, we didn't have to discuss the shattering of any glass measuring devices.
My worst TV obsession and a new season begins tonight. Sadly, we'll probably watch and I'll get hooked. I always swear if the first episode is bad, I won't watch the season. The first episode is ALWAYS bad and I ALWAYS watch the season. I can't help it. I also watch The Bachelorette, and I even stooped low enough to watch Bachelor Pad. And my poor husband complains but stays with me while I watch...
Our DVR is way backed up. We're only current on shows through about mid-November, and about a two-month lag is pretty normal for us. We get home from work late enough that we're lucky to make it through a one-hour show before going to bed, and we don't watch every night (and when we do, we also sometimes watch movies). Given the many shows we record, it means we're perpetually behind and slipping further back, but once in a while, we'll watch a ton on a lazy Saturday or something.
My other sad (and some not-so-sad) TV obsessions:
I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant (seriously? but sure enough, some of these stories are compelling, like the woman who miscarried only two of the three implanted embryos, or the woman told she was sterile after chemo, etc.);
Hoarders (I use this show in hopes of getting myself to throw stuff away, but if nothing else, it discourages further accumulation);
The Office (like it, like it);
Ballando con le Stelle (the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars);
Law & Order SVU (used to love it but this season sucks, too message-heavy, but still watching anyway);
The Event (hubby's choice, I like it okay);
The Chase (we mostly fast-forward just looking for scenes filmed in Dallas; they've filmed many times near where each of us work);
Outsourced (have yet to watch a single episode, but have several recorded);
Police Women of Dallas (again, mostly just to see Dallas on screen).
And we also watch the Fox shows on Sundays when we have time (Simpsons, Cleveland show (just started DVRing), Family Guy, American Dad).
My past fave TV shows were Lost, Friends, Seinfeld, and ER for a while. Anyway, for lack of a better topic, and given the excitement and hope I have for tonight's premier of Lo Scapolo, that's all I've got today.
BTW, we watch the regular American version of the Bachelor. As far as I know, there's no Italian version, but wow, wouldn't that be hilarious???!!!
Our Italian vocabulary words for last night are on the list at home, but included fun words such as spatula, affair, unload, dishwasher, and others no doubt (hubby knew those last three, but I didn't). Thankfully, we didn't have to discuss the shattering of any glass measuring devices.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
2011 Resolutions
Okay, I've had some time to ponder. As with last year, there are a couple personal resolutions that I won't share, and a couple I may leave vague on the blog, but here goes.
1. Italian at home. We started last night and have decided already to clarify a bit. The resolution will apply to evenings on the second floor (where the kitchen and living room are). We're going to keep a running list of vocabulary we need to look up (to give you a sense of last night's conversation and events, words I need are cutting board, glass measuring cup (wondering if there was a word for the larger one that you use for liquids, not just like a 1/3 cup measuring cup thing), shatter (hubby's doing, not mine, argh), tase (or is the verb taze?) (and taser), and la scorta (the name of the movie we were watching in Italian, it means the bodyguard or the bodyguards, we both thought it was singular but it was used as an invariable plural throughout, so we need to clear that up)). Our conversation sometimes seems awkward. For example, last night's conversation went something like this: This is a lot of food. There was more pasta than I thought. Yes, the pasta is abundant. Lol. Oh well, at least we're doing it, awkward and stilted as it may be -- the idea is that with time, we'll get used to it again. On nights we have wine with dinner, it may get even easier. We want to do this all year, including after we get back from Italy.
2. Follow at least one ambitious marathon training program to the best of my ability. This could of course be read broadly to include my whole non-running life practically, hours of sleep, hydration, diet, etc., but I'm going to focus on following the prescribed workouts at the prescribed paces. Day One was this morning, and it was a struggle to keep up, but I'm doing it. We're going to build up to 50 miles per week very soon -- like in just over one month. That scares the crap out of me, but I'm going to trust and try... Hopefully this will lead to a marathon PR in 2011, either in the spring or the fall or both.
3. Log at least 1400 miles. This should be no problem, particularly if I do a fall marathon, as I do most years. This is my first year with a spring marathon as well, so it will be easy to have tons of high-mileage months if I do both. 2009 I was at 1284 (with speed training in the spring and three fall marathons). 2010 I was just over 1400 (with speed training in the spring and two fall marathons). It would be uber-cool to hit 2011 miles in 2011, but I think that's too big a leap to make a good goal for me. But it'll be in the back of my mind probably...
4. Attain a new 5k PR. This means I'll either tie or beat Adam since I am currently one second behind him. I may have to lose some weight to do this, but I'm not making a specific weight loss resolution since I haven't had a lot of success with that in the past.
5. Entertaining at home -- similar resolution to last year's in terms of quantity, would like to host several people we did not last year. This will general mean dinner parties. It might mean some new recipes too. Our one traditional party (rehearsal dinner anniversary) isn't going to work this year because we'll be in Boston that day (it will be marathon-eve), so we might try to do that two days early, or we'll just defer this year (might be good to defer since I won't be drinking a few days before the marathon).
6. Flossing five days per week. This was a resolution for me in 2005 and my dentist could tell. I felt quite guilty during my early 06 visit when she was commenting for the second time what a great flosser I was -- I didn't have the heart to say it was my 05 resolution and I wasn't repeating it in 06. By summer of 06, I was back to being told to floss more regularly on every trip to the dentist.
7. Operation: Fit-Closet. I'd like to progress toward having everything in my closet fit me and be things I wear. That means lots of clothes need to be donated or altered. I wish there was some kind of bulk deal for alterations. I might just take ten skirts/pants with me to a couple places and see if I can get a no-rush quantity discount. Some stuff hasn't fit for quite some time, so what's the difference if the alterations take three months. Some pieces weren't expensive and might not be worth having altered -- for those, I need to donate. I'd been kind of dragging my feet on this because I think we'd hit the cap for in-kind donations already for 2010, so I've been holding some things to donate this year. But even if it's a bad deal tax-wise, I want the closet to be cut in half about by next year. Maybe hubby could keep his clothes there then!
8. Book Research. I've been considering attempting to write a non-fiction book for some time, and I've started compiling notes, but as the research gathering process is extensive and unending (and since I have no expectations of completing a draft for years), I am resolving to be more diligent about recording research this year. As I've probably noted before, I like reading a lot but don't do enough of it. I tend to read whatever assigned book we have for book club (usually fiction, unless it's my month!). And I mostly like WWII non-fiction for my free reading. Or non-fiction running books. But if I could go back in time, I'd like to have majored in history in college, and maybe pursued it beyond there. It could be very compatible with law! Anyway, my primary area of interest is probably Pacific Theater, but I'm not picky really when it comes to that war. I also enjoy Russian history a great deal (esp the revolution!) and wish I had the time and energy to learn Russian so I could read native-language books. But for now, I'd like to work a bit more on my own research.
I may have to add a few more in the next week, I'm usually between 10 and 15, but this is what I've got so far.
1. Italian at home. We started last night and have decided already to clarify a bit. The resolution will apply to evenings on the second floor (where the kitchen and living room are). We're going to keep a running list of vocabulary we need to look up (to give you a sense of last night's conversation and events, words I need are cutting board, glass measuring cup (wondering if there was a word for the larger one that you use for liquids, not just like a 1/3 cup measuring cup thing), shatter (hubby's doing, not mine, argh), tase (or is the verb taze?) (and taser), and la scorta (the name of the movie we were watching in Italian, it means the bodyguard or the bodyguards, we both thought it was singular but it was used as an invariable plural throughout, so we need to clear that up)). Our conversation sometimes seems awkward. For example, last night's conversation went something like this: This is a lot of food. There was more pasta than I thought. Yes, the pasta is abundant. Lol. Oh well, at least we're doing it, awkward and stilted as it may be -- the idea is that with time, we'll get used to it again. On nights we have wine with dinner, it may get even easier. We want to do this all year, including after we get back from Italy.
2. Follow at least one ambitious marathon training program to the best of my ability. This could of course be read broadly to include my whole non-running life practically, hours of sleep, hydration, diet, etc., but I'm going to focus on following the prescribed workouts at the prescribed paces. Day One was this morning, and it was a struggle to keep up, but I'm doing it. We're going to build up to 50 miles per week very soon -- like in just over one month. That scares the crap out of me, but I'm going to trust and try... Hopefully this will lead to a marathon PR in 2011, either in the spring or the fall or both.
3. Log at least 1400 miles. This should be no problem, particularly if I do a fall marathon, as I do most years. This is my first year with a spring marathon as well, so it will be easy to have tons of high-mileage months if I do both. 2009 I was at 1284 (with speed training in the spring and three fall marathons). 2010 I was just over 1400 (with speed training in the spring and two fall marathons). It would be uber-cool to hit 2011 miles in 2011, but I think that's too big a leap to make a good goal for me. But it'll be in the back of my mind probably...
4. Attain a new 5k PR. This means I'll either tie or beat Adam since I am currently one second behind him. I may have to lose some weight to do this, but I'm not making a specific weight loss resolution since I haven't had a lot of success with that in the past.
5. Entertaining at home -- similar resolution to last year's in terms of quantity, would like to host several people we did not last year. This will general mean dinner parties. It might mean some new recipes too. Our one traditional party (rehearsal dinner anniversary) isn't going to work this year because we'll be in Boston that day (it will be marathon-eve), so we might try to do that two days early, or we'll just defer this year (might be good to defer since I won't be drinking a few days before the marathon).
6. Flossing five days per week. This was a resolution for me in 2005 and my dentist could tell. I felt quite guilty during my early 06 visit when she was commenting for the second time what a great flosser I was -- I didn't have the heart to say it was my 05 resolution and I wasn't repeating it in 06. By summer of 06, I was back to being told to floss more regularly on every trip to the dentist.
7. Operation: Fit-Closet. I'd like to progress toward having everything in my closet fit me and be things I wear. That means lots of clothes need to be donated or altered. I wish there was some kind of bulk deal for alterations. I might just take ten skirts/pants with me to a couple places and see if I can get a no-rush quantity discount. Some stuff hasn't fit for quite some time, so what's the difference if the alterations take three months. Some pieces weren't expensive and might not be worth having altered -- for those, I need to donate. I'd been kind of dragging my feet on this because I think we'd hit the cap for in-kind donations already for 2010, so I've been holding some things to donate this year. But even if it's a bad deal tax-wise, I want the closet to be cut in half about by next year. Maybe hubby could keep his clothes there then!
8. Book Research. I've been considering attempting to write a non-fiction book for some time, and I've started compiling notes, but as the research gathering process is extensive and unending (and since I have no expectations of completing a draft for years), I am resolving to be more diligent about recording research this year. As I've probably noted before, I like reading a lot but don't do enough of it. I tend to read whatever assigned book we have for book club (usually fiction, unless it's my month!). And I mostly like WWII non-fiction for my free reading. Or non-fiction running books. But if I could go back in time, I'd like to have majored in history in college, and maybe pursued it beyond there. It could be very compatible with law! Anyway, my primary area of interest is probably Pacific Theater, but I'm not picky really when it comes to that war. I also enjoy Russian history a great deal (esp the revolution!) and wish I had the time and energy to learn Russian so I could read native-language books. But for now, I'd like to work a bit more on my own research.
I may have to add a few more in the next week, I'm usually between 10 and 15, but this is what I've got so far.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Goals and Resolutions
Interesting bit on goal-setting that I've saved from the MTCM emailed newsletter:
What should I keep in mind when setting my goals?
I accomplished both. Not only did I get my marathon time within 5 minutes of Boston, I actually qualified and had a few minutes to spare. And not only did I log 1300 running miles, I hit that total in early December during my second marathon of the year, and I've kept running this month to end up with a total of just over 1400 (haven't calculated exactly, probably around 1402 or just under).
The two tangentially-related resolutions were to improve my posture and to lose some weight. Those two count as fails I guess. It's hard to measure posture. The one sub-part of that was to stop crossing my legs to avoid making my creepy knee-area veins any creepier, and I think I did well on that, but I still am awful about posture in general (as I type this while curled up on the couch). And weight loss kind of happened, I was doing great right before the marathon, but the second half of December has killed me and I've erased most of my 2010 progress. Technically, I'm starting off 2011 below where I started 2010, but not by much. But again, since I have a couple clear running goals for 2011, I'm not sure weight loss will be a real priority, though it will hopefully happen.
I'm still thinking about 2011 resolutions. Giving myself until the end of the weekend to set them. I will probably have three running resolutions -- to exceed 1400 miles for the year (should be easy-peasy given spring and fall marathons in all likelihood), to get a marathon PR, and to get a 5k PR. I'd also like to lose weight, to eliminate clothes that don't fit from my closet, and to floss regularly. That's about all that relates directly to my body.
I'd like to make a more concerted effort at adding research I'm compiling for possibly a non-fiction book someday, or just to have.
2011 is going to be l'Anno Italiano (and yes, you should sing that to the tune of Mambo Italiano). To the extent it does not negatively impact communication in our marriage, hubby and I are going to speak Italian at home in the evenings. I want to keep a running list of words I need to look up or learn from hubby. I'd like to spend some time actually studying Italian each week. The relatives with whom we stay in Italy are older and speak mostly dialect, but they understand Italian just fine, and we both understand some dialect. Usually younger people help us understand what older people are saying, but there are inevitable moments of frustration and miscommunication. Either way, I can't control much of what I understand from them (though I'm watching an Italian movie right now, just trying to get more used to hearing it), I can at least improve my vocab and make myself more easily understood.
I'd like to renew my resolution from last year about entertaining at home more frequently. I love cooking and having people over. Because of our schedules unfortunately, it works best for us to do this on Friday nights, which means I have to choose things mostly that can be made in advance since I work on Fridays. But I'd like to have some different friends over and try more recipes, plus entertaining some of our "regulars" again in 2011.
I'll have to keep thinking to come up with a good list, but that's where I am so far. Full official 2011 resolution list coming tomorrow.
What should I keep in mind when setting my goals?
Develop goals that pursue values (i.e. self-confidence, patience). Goals need to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound, Evaluated, and Re-evaluated - "SMARTER." When setting goals, it is also important to utilize what I like to call "consistency," "development," and "rock-star" goals. Consistency goals are for runs and training that one already does well, and that need to continue to provide a base of performance and confidence. Development goals are the next set of goals that are within reach, but are challenging. Rock-star goals are breakthroughs. Use your "consistency goals" as your base, and be judicious in adding "development goals." As your training develops, your development goals become your consistency goals.
Even elite athletes work more with consistency goals, than development goals, and relatively few "rock star" goals. The path through your goals toward your values might wander a bit. Be kind to yourself when you step off the path or have to adjust your goals. Then, gradually move yourself back in a direction toward your values.I'm going to try to keep that in mind when making my New Year's resolutions, particularly those related to running. Last year I had two clear running-related resolutions: get my marathon time within 5 minutes of what I needed for Boston (meaning shaving at least 4 minutes off my PR), and to log at least 1300 running miles (improving on my 2009 total of 1284).
I accomplished both. Not only did I get my marathon time within 5 minutes of Boston, I actually qualified and had a few minutes to spare. And not only did I log 1300 running miles, I hit that total in early December during my second marathon of the year, and I've kept running this month to end up with a total of just over 1400 (haven't calculated exactly, probably around 1402 or just under).
The two tangentially-related resolutions were to improve my posture and to lose some weight. Those two count as fails I guess. It's hard to measure posture. The one sub-part of that was to stop crossing my legs to avoid making my creepy knee-area veins any creepier, and I think I did well on that, but I still am awful about posture in general (as I type this while curled up on the couch). And weight loss kind of happened, I was doing great right before the marathon, but the second half of December has killed me and I've erased most of my 2010 progress. Technically, I'm starting off 2011 below where I started 2010, but not by much. But again, since I have a couple clear running goals for 2011, I'm not sure weight loss will be a real priority, though it will hopefully happen.
I'm still thinking about 2011 resolutions. Giving myself until the end of the weekend to set them. I will probably have three running resolutions -- to exceed 1400 miles for the year (should be easy-peasy given spring and fall marathons in all likelihood), to get a marathon PR, and to get a 5k PR. I'd also like to lose weight, to eliminate clothes that don't fit from my closet, and to floss regularly. That's about all that relates directly to my body.
I'd like to make a more concerted effort at adding research I'm compiling for possibly a non-fiction book someday, or just to have.
2011 is going to be l'Anno Italiano (and yes, you should sing that to the tune of Mambo Italiano). To the extent it does not negatively impact communication in our marriage, hubby and I are going to speak Italian at home in the evenings. I want to keep a running list of words I need to look up or learn from hubby. I'd like to spend some time actually studying Italian each week. The relatives with whom we stay in Italy are older and speak mostly dialect, but they understand Italian just fine, and we both understand some dialect. Usually younger people help us understand what older people are saying, but there are inevitable moments of frustration and miscommunication. Either way, I can't control much of what I understand from them (though I'm watching an Italian movie right now, just trying to get more used to hearing it), I can at least improve my vocab and make myself more easily understood.
I'd like to renew my resolution from last year about entertaining at home more frequently. I love cooking and having people over. Because of our schedules unfortunately, it works best for us to do this on Friday nights, which means I have to choose things mostly that can be made in advance since I work on Fridays. But I'd like to have some different friends over and try more recipes, plus entertaining some of our "regulars" again in 2011.
I'll have to keep thinking to come up with a good list, but that's where I am so far. Full official 2011 resolution list coming tomorrow.
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