It's been a long time, shouldn't have left you....

.... without a dope beat to step to.. step to.

(nostalgia)

Been gone for a month ... busy with the schooling and such... not much excerising.. but it's going to change soon.
keep you posted.

Held HG7 last night.... epic turn-out. Shout out to all of those that came. This year meant pins x3.. I'll post photos soon.

Gone for awhile...

oops.. forgot about my postings...

New plans + studying= no time

Too much computer at works makes me not want to post when I'm home.

Things to do in Decemeber:

1) Distillery @ night
2) Modern /Contemporary Museum visit
3) Plan HG7
4) Start running again - new goal will be revealed on Jan 01/10.
5) Reformat this laptop.
6) Better wireless coverage
7) upload and format all the videotapes
8) Holiday shopping
9) Brunch adventures w/ E, SS,
10) Pump up the smiles!
11) Start with EC - Swimming bootcamp.
12) Try being Vegan for a couple of days
13) Clean out the binders
14) organize room and start to file appropriately
15) Create new 2010 goals. (1, 3, 5, 10 year goals)
16) Figure out travel plans, and overall design living space.

Here's a recent picture I took:

Matthew you make the best Cheesecake around! seriously! Thankgiving goodness...

Thanksgiving Fun

Included Oktoberfest fun; Eating; resting; sickness

All in good spirit: (1/88/0) RESTING from run.

Rest of the week: recovery.

Goals: Register for: ATB Mar '10
RR Dec 09
Euro Marathon - research starting mid May '10
Bike Show this weekend!

Back on track.....
(Kids shoes have nothing on me! only $39.99 for these boot @ the reebok outlet

fitness extreme

Half-Marathon, unexpected bike ride to Niagara.


View Larger Map

Stats: (2/215/22)

YEA!

Photos of the accomplishment!


Niagara you got nothing on me....... Chilly yes, but you conquered.

unexpected turn of events

stats: (1/82/17)

SURPRISE HALF-MARATHON on Sunday!!! 21km, proud of myself..... continuous, with minimal breaks.
The breakdown.

1k 4:44.92
2k 9.39.36 (4.54.54)
3k 14.29.96 (5.04.01)
4k 20.37.81 (6.07.85)
5k 25.07.94 (4.30.13)
6k 30.50.13 (5.42.19)
7k 36.16.00 (5.25.87)
8k 41.40.11 (5.24.11)
9k 47.23.11 (5.43.48)
10k 52.52.18 (5.25.59)
11k 58.27.13 (5.35.47)
12k 1:04.07 (5.39.87)
13k1:09.49 (5.41.48)
14k 1:15.39 (5.50.15)
15k 1:21.34 (5.55.13)
16k 1:28.08 (6:34.60)
17k 1:34.10 (6.01.96)
18k 1:40.18 (6.07.16)
19k 1:46.37 (6.19.19)
20k-21k 1:56.22 (10.21.50)
Last 500m 1:59.51 (2.52.44)

Got to run with Stonks, cheered her on, and ran with her in the crowd.

Life: WOW.

nuff said. potential niagara bike trip this weekend... we'll see.

work til you drop?

Not the vision I had...
(0/79/10) Typical low numbers.

weekend was great!
Fri: worked last LG shift, Th bday
Sat: Run/Brunch/Study (RBS); created Euro video (which later only coverted half... but it was still fun to make... I'll convert it again later)

Sun: brunch!!! Vegan style.
(Pumpkin French Toast, vegan/regular quiche (mushroom/green peppers), espresso, sweet potato fries.... and last days of summer salad)

GREAT TIMES!

hopefully back on schedule will be regular

FALL ATTACK

Stats this week: (0/180/24)

NOTE: the super awesome bike ride on sunday has inflated my numbers...

Run: has been a bit of setback with late night and conflicting schedule and not really feeling motivated.

swim: I guess I should start once the 50M opens.

Looking forward to this coming week; highlights...

GBC brunch
Th bday
KT dinner party
Getting cracking on studying.

LOVE LIFE. LOVE PASSION. LOVE!

ps: TIFF is on, but I'm too broke and don't have time to actually go to screenings.

MAy 2010

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?uan=1773

http://www.brathay.org.uk/download/pdf/Brathay%20Marathon%20Entry%20Form%202010.pdf

Average Sunday afternoon intense bike ride

My Friend AW and I decided to go on a bike ride.

Initially just to royalyork and back, but it turned into an epic ride.


(out to Kipling/Lakeshore --> Kipling/Dixon, along Lawerence to Bayview --> trickling through sunnybrook, back down to home)

109km. INTENSE!

Back from a hot summer

Hello Loyal Readers!

It's been a while since I've posted and that's because I had a great vacay in Europe. Did the requiste "backpacking through europe" ordeal.

This included:
Visiting more than 2 countries
Using the Eurail pass
Flying with Ryanair (won't use it unless it's worth it)
experiencing all the tourist and local sites.

Here are my best 5 photos:

(Memorial for all victims of the WW2 (Holocaust) - in Berlin)

(Being able to experience a piece of history through Concentration Camps. This one was at Sachsenhausen. The "Arbeit Machy Frei" means work will set you free.

The other concentration camp that I was able to visit was Terezin (1 hour north of Praha). Which became the showcase camp that the Nazi would display to the Red Cross. Amazing rich history in every pocket of the camp. Just amazing what the human collective is capable of accomplishing)

(Cseky Krumlov - 2.5 hours from Praha. Home to a 13th C Castle that is deemed a UNESCO world hertiage site. AMAZING small town with rich colours and cobble stone everywhere. So small that you turn one corner and it's another street)


(Barcelona - La Ramblas. Home to many street performers (buskers). They were very inventive. We actually ended up living a 1 minute walk from La Ramblas. But since the streets were so narrow and hidden, we definitely walked past it on the first day. We quickly remembered how to get there; then on. RP joined us in Barcelona and we took in all of Gaudi and the Beach. Great city.)

(NICE - cote d'azur) and the French Riveria. LOVE IT. feel in love when I was there in Gr.7, and just couldn't have ended my trip on a better note than in France. Such a cute city with a chilled attitude. Beach time on stones were a great change from the sand filled ones of Barcelona.

Was able to get 3 runs in while I was away. Back on track this last week.
3-4 runs. rowing and CORE..
Back on the bike. and got these stats:

[2/77/16] not bad. visited some pool peeps. saw some friends and just overall had a really laxed week.

more updates on food to come. Check out the FB photo album to see more photos

PS: the photos are not in any order, just top 5

Longweekend (proper)

stats: (0/128/30)

Saturday LONG DAY!

7am - 14 k run
9am - RP moving day!!!
1:30pm - FRESH (mmhhhh fake bacon)
3pm - Highpark w/GBC peeps S, W
4:30pm (LIT espresso coffee outing #5?)
6:30pm - Twin time
9:30pm Yonge/Wellesely

Home:

This was my bike ride today : 35+km

this week : prep for trip!

rain delay

stats for week of Jul 19-25

0/116/16 (excellent run earlier in the week)

Results came in: Close but no cigar. not sure what to do now.
Unmotivated during weekend runs becuase of the cloudy gloomy skies. Probably crying on my behalf.

BC 2.6 tonight! Ender's Game.

4th week of strike!

Weekly Stats: (1.3/116/32)

Run x2
Swim x 1
Bike x7

Sunday run: 13k


Regular run!!! I love it, it's 2 trails together! the Moore/Brickwork, and the bayview-roxobrough.

The week was long - even went over hours.. woops.

Thurs: GBC day (Dimsum/Darkhorse) with S and W.
Then I scooted over to "the Beach" for Dins with JD. Chicken burgers and a spicy slaw. Loved hearing her story of eastern Europe!!! getting excited about Europe in August.

F= work (break - completed 4 errands) work, then REST!

The weekend that was amazing.

SAT: 19k run, explored so many new places.



1) St.Clair Ravine - from Popular plains
2) Beltine to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
3) Getting lost in the cemetery
4) Brickworks Farmer's Market
5) Spending time with MS!

Then we showered and met up in Distillery District! Amazing fun with Balzac's, Clothes shopping, gallery fun, and Segway spotting!

Then I booked it over the Beach (Ashbridges) for 2xBday with Middle school friends.
Capped off the night with another bday celebration @ a club DT.

Sunday: Laze.
Worked, then had a great two hourse with VE! YAY! Summer/ excitement/ future ahead.

july heat

1/124/26

Excellent.

More mileage next week please.
going to do a sunday early morning run, since this morning was T-Storms up that bleep.

new fave site:

http://www.blogotheque.net/Sigur-Ros,4783

HEARTS!

(1/100/13) as of friday, that'll change with a run and bike ride on saturday.

physical activities!

SAturday - high park (25k)



Sunday AM - Trail galore! ( 12.6k) RUN

Sunday mid-day - 1km swim


SundayPM - Bluffer's park (2ok)

rejoice!

It's been a while since I've been on the site.

CFP exam done. results soon....? we'll see.

had a bit of a sleep deprivation thing going on, so I had to accumulate my sleeping bank and fill it to 85%. It's there, but on the way I caught a COLD, probably lack of sleep from some overnight picketing action.

If you haven't heard, Indoor and outdoor workers are on strike. Heading into week 3.
We'll continue to fight the good fight for the sake of keep benefits that past generations were allowed so we can continue to defend what the union has worked so hard to attain. Not "our" fault that the whole world is going through an economic crisis.... But just because you "the City" decide that now would be a great time to save, doesn't make it fair. You've given the five other sectors a 3/3/3% raise over the next 3 years, how come it's so hard to give it to other workers.

An article that you should read (from the union side.)

The public has been quite vocal about the lack of garbage service. IF you ask me, if it's really this important that you think the Provincial government should step in and enforce arbitration, then maybe it is an essential service and we should be entitled to the same deal that has been give to other "unions" over the last 5 months.... Day13?...

I HATE all this bullshit talk about strikers not letting anyone into the transfer/garbage sites. It's people using third-hand tales and making it seem like the strikers are the monsters. Yet, if you were to go to the site where I was picketing you'll notice that the union members are quite nice, agreeable and will let you throw your garbage into the trucks if you wait your turn. In a civilized manner, hence the waiting 10-15 seconds to dump your garbage. a little inconvinence to make a point to citizens, the city and overall public that we should have a fair collective agreement. When people say that these services should be privatized.. ok, fine. But what happens when that privatized company goes on strike?! the provincial can not legistlate them back to work, the city will be locked into this deal and guess what?!!! no garbage service at all. (eye rolls). Mark my word, a deal will not be reached until well after this week , at the earliest.

IN other news: Huntingfield was showcased on "real world" they should like Keane/ Maroon 5 but minus the singers voice. more Keane-eque. check em out.

complete.....?

it's over.

Do I feel accomplished? Not so much.
Do I feel exhausted? Certainly So.

Knowledge was there........ I hope. It was more judgement questions.
Won't know results until a month. I'll fill out my times with relaxing and just enjoying the weather and life in general.

going to live it up with NXNE.

Fri 19th - Montana's for Arietta, Magneta Lane

Sat 20th - Reverb, for indie findings.

more to report later

Starting training schedule, new goal - STWM 09! or TM 09? decisions.
hopefully get back on track for 2009 in 09.

final feeling - huge sigh of relief

counting down

Study break!

hours spent studying last week: 30 hours

Countdown: 5 more study days until June 13th.

exercise: 70+ km biking for commuting purposes only. blob!

Gets me from point A-B!!!

OOO and Gerry had a baby boy : Gavin Daniel. 7lbs 12 oz.
Friday was a great day off----> AM cycle to work, then visited Gerry out in the West end, say Gavin 12 days old.
PM --- work; inspiring kids
evening- CWC pho birthday gathering (June 11th)
night- Nat/Dave's house warming on college.

midnight retreat :D :D

like breaks here and there make my day!

Sat: Coffee with Jenners @ Mercury, then ice cream @ ed's. How convenient.
Sun AM: Coffee with Anns @ Manic, pre work; post car letter writing and her post yoga sess!

HEARTS HEARTS!

green shoots... HA

Stats for May 17-23rd

1/70/--- (no run= sad )

Studying= 15-20 hours.
Investments out of the wa-zoo!

Might be distracted by: http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/indiareborn/watchepisodes.shtml

India-Reborn!

steadily there....

-/86/21

Study hours: 13 hours (long weekend !)

New counts Sunday-Saturday!

not on track

Just can't do it!

WHY WHY WHY!!!!!

Did the 1/2; is was okay. Details aren't important. I finished strong, that's all that matters.

Disappointed in my study habits. Must focus. To be the BEST is to be on track! That is what I'm going to do....

Not the end of the week but.

-/73/21 as of thurs.

Study: 1hour. WOW---- I can't let myself down. Doing 3 hours tonight.
OVER!

DONE!

it started out well

As I grow up, I realized that I'm a very objective  person.

The other day -- I had to "breathe" my way out of not yelling madly at drivers.
It's a constant struggle.
Almost a sense of entitlement that we should be sharing the road, but then I realize that sometimes it just happens that drivers dont' want to share the road.

SAD? yes!!

Just need to be more vigilant about how drivers will react to my bell dinging, and "heads up" yells.

Stats: -/49/-. LAZY!

no promise of ever getting back on track... but it will happen.
(end of rest week. Bring on the studying!)

Countdown: 6 weeks (48 days)

the end

Week 2 of 2 done!

stats: abysmal! -/119/-

Bike up st.clair to bathurst gave me a new light of tough! I'll conquer that hill next time.

 

---

Windows Live Messenger makes it easier to stay in touch - learn how!

week 1 of 2 for exams

First off, let me get my proud stats off.

-/107/36

Getting back on track with the running. 3 days of 10+ km, to various faves.
1) Beaches - broadwalk
2) south - distillery and back
3) RVR-Bayview extension- trails- st.clair!

AMAZING! broke the 100km mark for biking :D

3 /6 exams written, 3 more to go.

Probably the most brutal ones I have are this week.
Tax, Estate, Adv. Financial Planning!!!

Finally registered for the CFP - June 13th. Which means 2 months a 1 day. The countdown is on!

Here I come as a CFPc


Concept!

Apirl does shower

showers showers showers ruined friday/saturday morning runs!

stats: -/97/20 (it's on!)

SO CLOSE TO 100km on bike.. damn!

(MY single speed! Look at the new drop bars with light blue bar tape c/o bobs)

This was my ride on saturday

(DAvenport/Landsdowne to Home)

:D

April Bike Project

FRAME - 80% Sanded! This took about 2 hours to get done

GOLD RIMS - great purchase
Quality headbadge!

Another update next week!

(2 weeks left, 3 exams/week! I can smash this!)

Springing

Weeks stats: 1/15/16

verdict: weak!

I busted my single speed out of the porch, pumped up the tires, gave it a proper tune-up and it's smooth as butter!!!

Spent the weekend in Hamilton, K-W, and TO. Too packed for words.

Photos to come!

BOSTON weekend

Last weekend I went to BOSTON with the gurls CWC and KC!

Amazing time-- it also inspired me to get my running legs back on.
I clocked in 28 km in BEANTOWN, and 12k in HOGTOWN.
total: 38k.

(posting up best photo in a bit)

Boston I heart thee.

DDD

GREAT site that everyone on the web should check out.

Diet, Desserts and Dogs from local vegan, Ricki. It's amazing what you can do without meats. Visit her site, and leave a comment and maybe you can also win an amazing look cake. Click here for your chance to score.


BOSTON was great. got back the running juice (recovered from sickness)

38k
studying -- blah 9 (hopefully putting 2 in tonight) NERD

1/10/22

SICK, actual sick

seriously....

REAding week now!

Last weeks stats were very poor - 19k
STudied 12 hours.

cold, warm, frozen streets the next day, BLAH

no excuse, but it does when you still wanna work.

Work or study, or both!

new advancements or stick to it attitude

As the snow falls outside of my window I gather it's cold and windy. The music in the background is tranquil, folk and soul wrenching that exudes a personality all of its' own. As the vocals turn into melodic verses the feelings of soft, light, and peace overcoming any other thoughts that enter the mind. Music is a pivotal aspect of my life that I feel naked without listening, exploring, discovering and sharing. I've convinced myself that looking for new music is a "waste" of my time, that I need to stay focused on long-term goals. Whether the it's the strictest of regimented, calculated, focused hours of studying trumps my tranquil soulful sighs of happiness from music, is a constant question that comes to mind.

Why choose one over the other? Can it not be meld together?

As we past the 4 month mark to the EXAM, a new outlook at how time is allocated will be discussed with myself this week....
3 months till graduation
1.5 months to 30k around the Bay
3.5 weeks till Boston - St.Paddy day celebrations
2 days to reading week

A count is only significant when it provides some sense of meaning.
All I know is that I will work hard to accomplish my long list of goals.
Understand proceeds marks (but understanding it prior to tests/exams will attain higher marks)..... FOCUS, determination, questioning materials.

My new goal is to understand why certain rules are applied as opposed to other rules.


Riding my sweet-ass "red rover" once the snow melts..... oooo long rides!!!!
student life really does rule. priorities....

Read-----> Rich dad, poor dad.

mid feb report!

37 k this week. not tooo shabby. off of the 47 that was projected. next week better. next week we add mileage to long run Saturdays.

Click on the picture to get a better look.

Watched Shopaholic today! amazing!
Breakkie with S (part of the SS &S) @ Kalendar! amazing.
Productive day

Studying: 10, need to have more structure.

more winter, but it felt like spring

February 2nd was groundhog day! The weather-forecasting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, and proclaimed another six weeks of winter, but clearly he didn't get the memo on today amazing 7 degree temperature.

-/--/39!! YAYA!

Inching up, missed Wednesdays run due to going to see Fidelio @ the COC.

For those that aren't in the know, COC (Canadian Opera Company).

The performance was amazing, it was a great show. The music was well performed and the set was very detailed. It did take me a while to understand what was happening, but I decided that reading the synopsis was going to ruin my experience. THAT I was right!

CFP exam happening on June 13th. I'm doing my countdown too.
4 months 5 days 7 hours.

Blistering coldness

2/--/20.5k

new goals!

I hope you've noticed the change of the layout.... If not, then you weren't an avid reader.

This week stats: 2/--/18.5k

Requirement: 40k (Pending Saturday morning run that must be cancelled due to COLD WEATHER (ie: -25 when taking windchill into account)

If I complete long run, it'll reach 12 k... we'll see in the afternoon(Saturday)

I'm deciding to add a section in my weekly blog about running.

This week's feature is RUNNING in the COLD!

Tip #1: Don't run the last half of your run against the wind.... it will make your extermities frozen.

RECOUNT

This is my first offical run of the season. Determined to get back into running, we braved it in the -20/ -30 with Windchill on saturday morning at 7am.

Our go to run, the UCC (lonsdale) and back route.

This run has become a typical run. Looking back on the running we've been doing, it's nothing now. it's simple straight course with some hill work. Broke into my GT2130s yay!

Let's see how many pairs of shoes I'll need in 2009. Guess? 2 pairs.

Offical count for the year: 7.3k/2009

Let's go!
here are some excellent links for mapping and general running tips:

• gmap pedometer
• How I track my runs, swim, workouts. LOG ON, it's a great resource.
• Running Room
• Gordo, my inspiration and mentor

My typical workout schedule

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
	Swim LC (noon)	AM/PM Swim	AM swim?	40 min swim		30 min swim
Run 1 hour easy	short run	TRACK work 30 min		Run 30 minutes	LONG runs (1 hr +)
Core 30 minutes	Weights 45min LEGS	Core - 30 min	CORE/ Pilates	Weights - Arms, chest		WT, back (45min)
4:30 @ FH	4pm SCC	4:30 @ FH	Studio	5:45am	7am	SCC

If you'd like to join, hit me off an e-mail.

let's see how this goes.

First order of business.... Missisauga or Ottawa? pre or post may 24? dilemma.

Here's a picture to leave you on....
Distillery in all of it's glory.

Goals this week:

• hash out reading week plans
• expectations of the months ahead,
• AGO,
• staying on Top of readings (6 new courses)

2009

2009 starts off on a great foot.

Despite being in pain at the moment, I have a lot to look out for in 2009.

Completed the Resolution Run on Sunday Dec 28th - 5k to mark the commitment to running.

As a result of new shoes, longer distances , and adjustments... my L ankle is hurting like a MOFO.
Otherwise it's looking like there are many opportunities to be had.

1) 2009 km in 2009 is one of my goals! With injuiries it'll still be tough, but I'll knock this one down,

2) Complete my nu-raver fixed gear bike for the city.
(currently I own a newly destroyed/fixed up RED single speed. I heart it!
and an amazing road bike Cannondale synapse 6 feminine edition)

3) Possibly to that ride to MTL and back, but we'll see if time permits and whether this Euro trip is go. I'm aiming for August?

4) Trying to stick to my schedules of balancing school, work, activities.

Always up for more workout partners.
Here's the tentative schedule:

Sunday (10-11am Weight Training)
Monday (4:30/5 - 7pm CORE, Run (middle distance [outdoors; weather pending] 10k
Tuesday (4-6pm - WT, Run 7k)
Wednesday (4:15/4:30 - 7pm Core, TRack work (speed?), Swim 45min
Thursday - OFF
Friday: 5:45am - 7:15am (Run 7k, followed by WT/Core)
Sat: 7am -10am (LONG RUNS! 12+)

Races so far:
March - Around the Bay 30k
Apr: NEW------> 10k Break free of exams!!! (friends run)
May - Missisauga or Ottawa
June - Mud run
July/Aug (outdoor swimming, travelling)
Oct : Toronto

Last week's stats: 2.6/--/22
Resolution run, Lonsdale, Eglington route...
Swam on Monday 2.6 k set.