I got my 1 mile run in before we left for kayaking.  This was my first time kayaking with the direpoof so I wasn't sure what to expect.  Now when the Kiddo, Pocky and I go canoe, we can get through 14 miles in a couple of hours. 

The kayak trip took about 5 hrs and 30 minutes and can be broken up in time chunks of:

1)  When Pocky jumped out of the kayak the first time
2)  When my kayak tipped over after Pocky tried to jump out when we were near some rapids
3)  When Pocky jumped out with my backpack and my cell phone in its waterproof case proved the case wasn't very waterproof
4)  When my throat started closing up/during my asthma attack
5)  When Pocky jumped out twice in a row and we thought he was trying to swim to land
6)  When Pocky made it to land and took the longest pee ever
7)  When Kiddo's flip flops broke when we took a quick break and saw there were cow patties everywhere "NOBODY MOVE!"
8)  When Kiddo helped a turtle out of a strong current onto land
9)  The guys who offered us a lot of money if we had a lighter.  I wish!

We asked a lot of Pocky to be in a boat and he did okay for the first couple of hours.  I think 5 was a lot for him.  He did sleep for a little while and that was sweet - covered a lot of distance with no problem.  But when he was awake, he was bouncing around everywhere and made it hard to paddle out of fear I was going to bop him on the head.  That happened a couple of times.  I'm very, very, very, very glad I had him wear a life vest.  When he jumped out near the rapids, he popped right back up and the handles on the back made it easy for me to grab him up and keep other people kayaking from running into him.

I'd have pictures, but you know, waterlogged cell phone, 2nd time in a month.  Ugh. 

Off to garden!

And work complaints.  Work shmerck. 

Today's plan included getting off work by 7:30 so I could sit on my bike trainer and watch So You Think You Can Dance auditions.  Besides RuPaul's Drag Race and Drag U, it's up there as my favorite reality show.  But that didn't go since I just walked through the door. 

At least I got a running workout in - a co-worker and I managed 3 miles including running to and from where we did baby hill repeats.  We started on a 0.1 mile hill and did that 6 times which we managed times gradually decreasing from 1:10 to 1:04, decent for me.  When the daycare class ended up swarming the area, we moved to a shorter but steeper hill ranging from 0:39 to 0:36, not sure what the distance was there but it was a decent climb.  We did that 5 times then repeated the 0.1 hill one last time before heading back to work.  Even though we were generous with going downhill easy, we were pretty sweaty from lack of shade.  It was a nice rut buster, a short attention span workout. 

In non-workout non-news, I solved the mystery of the black streaks that would end up on my dog's back seemingly out of nowhere. 

When I'm not looking, my Pocky would wiggle his way under my bike chain to get on the other side of the exercise mat and sniff around then he would wiggle his way back to the other side.  The grease on the chain would smear a long black streak on his white fur ending up looking like a sub-species of skunk. 

Thanks, you Pocky! 

We're going kayaking this weekend, by the way.  Time for the annual Mom-Kiddo-Pooper river trip!!! 

What are your plans?

Probably not today.  I have no idea why when I hear flute concertos I want to punch the dashboard or furniture and withdraw my  public radio support.

Oh, well.

Shit Clarinet Players Say Part I and II and this guy, he's got a bright sound for real

The guy who took over my duties at my old company had a breakdown.  Started with an argument at work then he went home, got a gun and threatened suicide.  His partner calmed him down but then he took off, said he was going to California and going to shoot himself.  They caught him in Kansas City.  Poor guy.  I've known him a while and he hated working where he worked but was studying to go into a different profession.  He wasn't having any luck landing a new job, though, things are still tough.  I am so very glad his partner cared enough about him to call the police and get him help.  I'm glad he didn't hurt himself or anyone else.  I don't think he would've hurt anybody but himself, honestly, but then again, I don't know everything that happened.  Good thoughts to him. 

My GAAP financials were signed off but I'm still waiting on audited STAT.  Almost there!!!!!  But alas.  Still working late.  Feels like the a ponzi scheme but with work, if I get x done then it'll get easier.  Wait, if I get x, y and z done, it'll get easier.  Meh.

In the meantime . . .

Me, rockin' the double chin action and I swear, I'm running in this picture. 

I ran a half and got many, many compliments on my top.  It was stupid hot that day and my top was made of sheer mesh but printed so it didn't look like it was see thru.  I improved my time by 11 minutes from last year but I cramped pretty badly the last two miles due to heat.  I pretty much walked miles 11-12.5 and almost sabotaged my high end goal.  Still, I had a lot of fun and was very happy working the hills on weekends paid off.  Sure, I never slept but if it weren't for running, I don't think I would've done anything for myself these extremely hard months.

No, I would not recommend working 100+ hours a week and training for a marathon.  Or a half.  But it was nice to not think about work for a couple of hours and a half and change. 

How you doin'?

Blah.  Still working hard.  Will be through May 15.  No update on the private stuff besides my mom had surgery last night which was my sister's last ditch effort to get her the last port left for dialysis.  My mom made it through but it went against the protocol of no surgical procedures.  Running a half-marathon this weekend and trying to figure out how I will get all my work done at the same time since the race is out of town.  Meh.  Hope things are good and hating Xanga is banned at work.

Delirious from working not one but two overnighters this week.  I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm doing a lot of it trying to meet a 4/15 deadline.  Also not sure if I'm trying to get fired or trying to keep my job.  I'll figure that out soon, I think they're disappointed in me.  Fire me.  Fire me now!!!

Today I waited 70 minutes for the pool at the YMCA to open. 

Beep, beep.  Let me back up there.

Last night around 10:30pm, the CFO wrote all of Finance and told us to take the day off.  I think he realized he was about to have a mutiny.  I was longed rumored to be unhappy and looking for a job but I was not the only one.  At least 5-6 other accountants are ready to jump ship and 3 new hires said if it stayed this way, they wouldn't be here this time next year.  My answer of how much vacation I took last year sadly confirmed their suspicions.  You're getting hosed, yo.  The hours you work make you earn what you would straight out of college Mr. CPA MBA CFA CIA.  I took it that the CFO gave up.  We can't meet our deadlines with year end, too many new assets, a new general ledger and not enough staff.  20 hours on Tuesday, Thursday each, 15-17 hours Monday and Wednesday, Friday I worked 14 hours and yesterday 13-14. 

So I took today off.  I don't know what will happen tomorrow.

I went to the YMCA early so I could swim slow and long.  When I got there, it was closed.  Lightning.  I forgot they do that!  I ran for about 40 minutes, cycled half an hour and would ask staff walking by "Is it open?  Is it open yet?"  They were pretty sick of me.  I ended up leaving and running errands then swimming at a different YMCA.  I swam my mile and got the heck outta there.  It was a huge sausage fest.  Not that I mind but yeah, kind of mind because 1) they were starting at the wrong end of the pool 2) these sausholes had terrible form, splashing everywhere.  I'm jealous that some guys can have the worst way of swimming and still be speedier.  They were causing waves.  Normally, I don't mind fighting turbulence but today I wasnted to de-stress. 

What's up with you?

I came in 2nd for women and 4th overall at the Give it a Tri!  Woohoo!  I get a prize which I'm assuming will be a Subway sandwich.  Fine.  It's my winnings!!!  Okay.  Off to bed.  I'm tuckered out.

Also KUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!  I miss you!!!  I'll be in Cincy for the Flying Pig.

My job's network has banned Xanga and cut off the wireless so no updates in the workweek.  I'd say I'll post at night but work is turning into a 20 hours a day nightmare.  Mentally, I've quit.  I'll run myself into a physical breakdown if I try to keep up with everything.  I find not one ounce of joy in this job and I am frazzled and distressed.  My joy is found in the time I run away from the office, my dread is the turn back to the office.  Sunday nights are bad because I think about how many people will be on my back on Monday. 

Saturdays are becoming increasingly difficult for me to wake up early and get my distance.  I am so worn out that I need a couple to a few more hours of sleep before I get started and even then, I think about how I should be working.  That sucks.  I spent the majority of yesterday - St. Patrick's Day - in bed.  I hardly got any sleep being out of town Monday through Thursday, training in South Carolina.  I worked until about 9pm nightly and had to order room service once because everything else had closed.  Wednesday was an all night worknight.  I was delirious Thursday.  Flights were delayed on the way home due to the volume of Spring Break travelers and storms out West. 

The job I wanted to apply for on Monday is already filled.  Wow!!!!  I hope another opportunity comes up as I'll do anything to get out of this position.  I'm going to chase a job at a gym.  I don't care if it's mopping up sweat. 

This morning, I participated in an indoor triathlon and did a lot better than I did last year.  In 2011 for 15 minutes of stationary cycling, 15 minutes of treadmill running and 10 minutes of swimming, I got 3.94 mi (15.76 mph)/1.34 mi (11:11 mpm)/0.26 mi (1.58mph).  This year, I think it's 4.50 mi bike (about 18 mph)/1.49 mi run (about 10:10 mpm pace)/0.31 mi (1.86 mph).  I don't think I'll win anything for that but it's an improvement!  Last year was painful bunion wise.  I was out of breath this year and overly hot - I think I had too much on and started a little fast.  But I had fun!!!

Short lived.  I'm working from home.