The Web Groweth!

OK so this pain in the neck web has gotten bigger over the past week.  It has been fixed a few times & there is a small mistake in the pattern.  Now tell me....can you find it?

The Not So Crafty Web

I started knitting this new project.  You know, because my other 30 projects just weren't doing it for me any longer.  It's called Charlotte's Web.  What a pretty name, right?  All my knitting friends who have also knit it lovingly refer to it as their "Charlotte" & how lovely "Charlotte" is & how many compliments they get when they wear "Charlotte."  F*ck them.  & excuse my French, but this scarf/wrap/whatever you call it is so goddamn hard it just makes me want to curse.  The other day I sat for 3 hours & I think I knit 2 rows.  Then it had to be ripped out, again, for about the 15th time.  & I think 15 is a conservative number.

It's not that I can't knit this, because I have knit quite a few rows & have switched from one yarn to the next (there are 5 yarns that this project uses) & I am actually on yarn #3 right now, but I am stuck, yet again because instead of reading & working on row 15, I stupidly was reading row 13 & in my haste to rip out row 13, I dropped a stitch.  But since it is a lace pattern, I can't figure out what to pick back up.  I can see where the drop is, but that's where my expertise comes to a screeching halt.

I've enclosed a picture of the web when it was in its early stages.  I've progressed a bit further than this & will post updates.  Ugh.

The best part is that pretty much everyone I know has knit this & they all look at me like oh you're going to love it.  Um.  Yeah.  Whatever knitting show offs! 

Hypercat Racing

I did it.  I hired a coach.  OK, some of you may be thinking...why would I do that?  Because I'm lazy, that's why.  I haven't been motivated at all to get out & do what I have previously done in the past.  Of course I'm not some big athlete, but I am getting to the point where I'd like to compete in different types of events (70.3 Ironman races, Alcatraz, 13.1 marathons, etc.) & I know that I am not as motivated as I used to be.

I found them through some basic research on Facebook & Twitter.  I spoke with one of their coaches, Rachel, & she seemed really cool & very qualified.  I looked over what she had to say & their website & I did it.  I filled out all of the paperwork & sent it off to California yesterday.

Actually, the main reason I decided to get a coach is that I am really nervous about the Alcatraz swim.  I've heard from a few that have done it that there's no need to worry, but I'm a worrier, so I worry!  After speaking with Rachel, I still have some worries, but I know that I've been a lifelong swimmer & the distance will be a piece of cake.

I'm waiting patiently to get my hands on my Alcatraz training plan & get to work.  I will keep everyone posted on my progress, or lack of progress (lets hope not) in the coming months.  I think I only have about 130 days left til the big day!  Wow, that's just crazy.

Broken Tooth

My worst fears have come true!  As I was eating salad, yes salad, tonight I felt a crunch.  & it wasn't a crouton!  At first, I was a bit confused, but after I swallowed...I knew.  Part of my tooth - the front part of one of my molars had cracked off.  I wanted to die.  & I am sure that everyone in my family wanted to die as well because for the rest of our dinner, my father's birthday dinner, all I could do was talk about my broken tooth.  That's fine, because if you know my dad, he asks you the same question over & over so at least we had something to keep the topic of discussion moving along.

It wouldn't be so bad, but I come from a long line of terrible teeth.  If that even makes sense.  Everyone in my family has the worst set of choppers one could ever wish to see.  I mean, we don't have English teeth, but they are a close second.  For my thirteenth birthday I asked for braces.  What 13 year old asks for braces?  So for the past 25 years I've had perfectly straight teeth.  They might not be the pearliest of pearly white, but they are straight as a pin.  A recurring dream, or nightmare I should say, is having my teeth knocked out.  I've woken up many nights in a panic that I lost a tooth in a fight, car crash, or a crazy industrial accident.  Hey, some people have dreams  that they are falling, mine are about losing my teeth!

I immediately turned to my dad after this debacle & asked him (since his is an attorney) if I could sue.  Imagine my shock when he said no!  OMG people sue McDonald's for a tiny burn from hot coffee.  This is a tooth!  I may need to go out & find a more schiestier lawyer!  I believe my father's real reason for not suing is that we were at his favorite Prime Rib place & if we did sue them for at least a cool million, his fear of never being allowed back in far outweighs his daughter's smile.  Typical.

So instead of the big day of working out I had planned for tomorrow I have a feeling that I am going to be sitting in the dentist's chair praying to God he doesn't have to yank the rest of my tooth out.  That would be tragic.

Thanks all (5 of you) that are still reading this terrible tooth sage.  It is kinda gross.  So gross that my semi-step brother (I say that because my dad is not married to his girlfriend of 17 years & that's her son) - was so grossed out about my ongoing tooth problem at dinner, I didn't think he was going to eat.  But he did manage to choke down some chicken parm.

Maybe after the dentist I will sit down & figure out a better plan for this week, as it has not started out on a good note!  At least we'll know in a few short hours if I am going to look like a Jack-o-Lantern or not.

Jersey Shore Relay

This morning I received an email from a friend's brother.  It was a link asking me (telling - actually) to sign up for the Jersey Shore Relay Marathon  http://www.jerseyshorerelay.org/index.php?p=registration.  What could I do?  I dropped a check in the mail to him & I am in!  I also have recruited 2 of my other friends to (hopefully) do this race.  The 2 Katies!  I am hoping that they both sign up to be on my relay team.  I think we will have a great team - all girls so far, which will be fun.  I am also hoping that said brother's sister (does that make sense?) will end up being on my team too.  We will be a crazy (pronounced cwazy) bunch!

I've never done this race, but it's supposed to be a great time.  Starting in Seaside & finishing in Asbury Park, now that's a hike.  I think I want to be in for the Spring Lake - Belmar portion, as that is my usual outdoor run route.  Perhaps I can "suggest" that's the portion I'd like to run.

It takes place on April 16th, which is Jerry's birthday, which is quite fitting because he is the main reason that I took up running almost 10 years ago.  Even though it took me a really long time (probably a good 6-7 years) to get into a good running groove, I've stuck to it for over 3 years & it's become part of my daily life.  Now, I'm still not a great runner & I'm still slow, but it's something I enjoy doing.  I almost can't believe it myself!

So if you're interested, or if you want to donate to a great cause, or just come on down & cheer us on, we'd love it!

Coaching

After I got accepted into the Escape from Alcatraz lottery I tried to research training plans.  I could probably stick to the 70.3 training plan, but I know that swimming in the San Francisco Bay is going to be harder than any normal open water swim I've ever completed.

As I was reading my tweets the other day, I came across a link from Hypercat Racing.  They had Alcatraz training plans.  Interesting.  I did make an appointment with one of the coaches, but I am unsure if I am going to purchase the plan.  What if it is something I already know?  What if it's too much money?  It's a tough one.  If it's super expensive, well then there's my answer, but what if it's not that much?  What if it's less than the new cost of a pair of running sneakers?  I mean....I am really curious as to what their training plan is all about.

One thing that I did get was an email from one of the coaches.  Funny thing is that she mistakenly sent me the training guide, which is a guide on what to expect during the entire race.  That was pretty cool, but it didn't have the training plan attached to it.  Darn!!!!

I don't think I can afford a coach at this point, nor am I even the type of calibre of person that would require one.  Am I?  Nah!  But the idea of having someone that will call me once a week & see if I'm sticking to my training plan is tempting.  But I think the whole point of this triathlon experience is doing it yourself, right?  Digging deep?  Seeing how far you can push yourself?  I don't know.  I'm still a newbie!  Maybe I'll see what this coach has to say & see if it's really worth it.

All I know is that there isn't going to be much outdoor training any time soon.  Too much snow!  Although, I have seen a bunch of runners out on River Road the past few days, but it's too treacherous out there & half of the sidewalks are still not plowed.  That doesn't seem very smart to be running in the street in such a snowy mess.  Plus, my outdoor running gear is seriously lacking!  Another reason to get out & start shopping for new gear!

Keep everyone posted on Friday after my chat with the coach.

2011

The snow is melting & I spent the day at a party celebrating the New Year!  No workout today, which may be the first time in many years I did not start the New Year off with a workout!  I did run 4 miles yesterday & did a little stair work.  I am going to seriously have to learn to run stairs if I am going to master the sand ladder in San Francisco in June.

I did get a new workout outfit (including shoes - would you expect less?) the other day & I am ready to start the year fresh!  I am even considering some trail running shoes (they are really cool black & pink Adidas) & stepping up my outdoor running.  Anything extra can help, right?  & this way I can justify these really cool trail sneakers!

While I was stuck in the house all week due to the blizzard (I worked 3 1/2 days in the past 2 weeks - yay for me!) I started & finished a hat for Mike.  This is one of my favorite patterns because it really takes less than a day to make.  I think I may have to make one for my brother as well because it only takes on ball of Noro Kureyon & I have about 15 balls of the stuff.  Who else needs a hat????

It's hard to see, but it matched his outfit today perfectly too!  Well that's it for me today.  It's been a quiet week.  Not much going on when you're stuck in the house snowed in.  Here's to a great 2011!