Martha's So-Called Life

a peek inside my dog's brain

Last week we started proofing class with Kiva. We've been to two classes so far, and it's been great.  The first week we worked on making sure the dogs actually knew what we were asking when we told them to "sit" or "down."  Kiva is pretty bad at sit.  She likes to sit for a bit and then lie down.  The instructor told us to just keep correcting her, so that's something we've been working on at home a lot.  

Before we go running, I always make her sit and wait with her leash on while I get ready.  Usually she ends up lying down because she gets tired of waiting for me.  Most of the time I let this go, because I really don't care if she's sitting or lying down, I just want her to wait.  Yesterday, rather than telling her just to "wait," I told her to sit.  She sat.  Then she laid down.  So I made her sit again.  Then she laid down.  We did this about five times in the 10 minutes it took me to get ready, and she never stayed sitting for more than a few seconds.  

Fast forward to after our run (she was really tired because we ran for 2 hours and 40 minutes)...I was sitting at the table eating dinner and Kiva was begging for attention.  So I told her to lie down.  She sat.  I said it again and used the hand signal. She kept sitting.  All the while she had this sassy look on her face that said "eff you, I'm sitting now."  I spent at least a minute trying (even physically trying) to get her to lie down...and she wouldn't.  What a jerk!

I told this story to John on our way home from dog class and he said, "you two totally deserve each other." Yep, she's definitely my dog. 

road trip playlist

A couple of weeks ago when we went to Seward, I made a playlist for our drive.  For the most part I listened to it quite loud.  I kept apologizing to John for turning the music up but claimed it was so he didn't have to listen to me sing.  I then apologized that he had to be stuck in the car with me for two hours while I danced.  He seemed unfazed...yet another reason why I like him!

 

loud but not so clear

Yesterday, Kiva spent the entire day sending me a very loud but not very clear message.  She was constantly in my face or laying on top of me.  I'm sick so I'm sure it had something to do with that.  Every time I sat down she jumped on to whatever I happened to be sitting on and stuck her nose in my face.  She also decided that she had to be on top of me in some way while I was sitting or lying down.  

First there was this...

And this...

And finally this...

I'm hoping it was just dog language for "I'm sorry you are sick and I hope you feel better soon" and not "please don't die!" 

breakfast for dinner and breakfast

Last night for dinner, we had avocado bacon waffles topped with fried eggs.  I think they either sound good to you or gross, but regardless of how they sound, know that they were delicious.  

We didn't have the tomato suggested, so I put some salsa on top instead.  I have not ever experiemented with savory waffles, but I think these will probably become a regular addition to our menu.  

For breakfast this morning, I was craving pancakes.  So I made some using this recipe from Nom Nom Paleo.  I also made a blueberry smoothie to round out the meal (almond milk, banana, and frozen blueberries).

The banana in the pancakes was enough to make them sweet so they did not require syurp.  I put a tiny bit on top anyway...for the flavor.  These pancakes would have also been delcious with any variety of nut butter on top.  

Side note: I realize I have not mentioned anything about the events at the Boston Marathon.  I don't plan to share my thoughts here either.  I don't have much to say about it, and spending my time overanalyzing something that was probably the result of irrational thinking is not high on my priority list.  I do wish to send my deepest sympathy and healing thoughts to those who were killed or injured and their families.  If I survive my first marathon this summer, I hope to run Boston some day.  

sick day

After too many days of traveling and playing plus working without sleeping enough, my immune system decided to call it quits and let whatever bug I've been fighting off for weeks have its way.  Fortunately, it is just an upper respiratory thing and not the GI stuff that's been going around (or maybe I just wash my hands enough to have avoided that one).  

Kiva and I laid on the couch all day and took multiple naps (she was under the impression that she was sick too) and we are both feeling much better now. 

In addition to a cold, I'm currently nursing some seriously sore muscles from Tuesday's adventure.  Sitting around all day is probably not the best way to get rid of them, but at the very least it makes me forget how badly they hurt...until I stand up.  I still claim that it was totally worth it and I would do it again.  

I also finally had a chance to upload the data from my watch.  I've been waiting to check out the elevation profile from the SLO half.  They had the full course elevation profile posted on the website, but it was hard to see just exactly what the half would be like.  

I realize none of those hills are particularly large, but there sure are a lot of them, and I'm not good at running hills, but looking at this makes me feel even better about my race.    It truly didn't feel as hilly as it looks.  Perhaps I was distracted by the scenery...

oops

Yup...still alive.  Barely.  After two good and one lousy day at work, I'm getting packed up to head to California with my dad.  I'm running a half marathon on Sunday that I've half heartedly prepared for...we will see how that goes.  

We did eat dinner three days this week even though I didn't post a menu (chicken tacos, peanutty veggie stir fry, and lemon artichoke chicken).  

I'll try and post from the road but my connection to the internets will be limited.  

the lion ate the lamb

Isn't March supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb?  This year, the lamb came first...and then the lion came and ate the lamb.  

The official total snowfall for this storm was 12.6 inches.  And this morning it is a balmy 1°F at my house.  Damn lions.  

I know that it often dumps snow here in the spring, but that doesn't mean that I'm excited about it.  I was looking forward to clearer sidewalks and a less wet and messy post-walk dog.  I guess I'm going to have to keep waiting.  

Kiva was not impressed that we were not going running in the snowy mess.  

She decided that she was going to sit on me until I gave in.

That didn't work out very well for her.  

I think she still has spring fever because she has continued to be very naughty.  This morning, for the first time in over two years, we had to put the leash on her in the house.  That was a method we used when she was a puppy to help her learn to be calm and settle down while we were watching TV or when I was in the kitchen.  I suppose sometimes young 'uns (four legged or two) need to be reminded of the rules and how to follow them.  

I meant to go for a ski yesterday, but after coffee (which then turned into lunch) with my dad, a trip to REI for ski wax, and whatever I did when I got home, it was time to cook dinner by the time I would have made it out the door.  

Today I am debating whether to run 7 miles on the 1.25 mile loop that is plowed in our neighborhood, or just go skiing.  Considering the dog antics that went on this morning, I'm leaning towards a run.  

spring fever

Kiva has spring fever.

On my days off, she usually gets a walk and a run.  She goes for a walk with John in the morning, comes home, and runs around like an idiot, growling and mashing toys into our legs like she's been cooped up for weeks. 

We go running in the afternoons and she repeats the above behavior.  

Right now, she is in the back yard barking her head off.  It doesn't even appear as though she is barking at anything in particular.  She's just running around the back yard barking.  

Then, after a while she will decide she is done being an idiot and get all cuddly and try and crawl into my lap like she's the nicest dog ever.  

Hopefully we will all make it until summer.  

too healthy?

My lunch today might be the healthiest thing I've packed in a long time.  Nothing artificial and no added sugar.  I've been pretty bad about eating junk at work lately.  Today, the key will be not eating 10 pieces of cookie and telling myself each time that it's just a piece...

Roasted Brussels sprouts, coconut curry, cucumber & celerey, guac, hummus, apple, and almonds.

 

finally, a headband that stays put!

I have always been jealous of people who can wear headbands while they exercise.  Heck, I've kind of always been jealous of people who can wear headbands period.  

I have a lot of hair and it is slightly unruly and it gets in my eyes.  It's especially bad when I'm running.  I've tried many different varieties of headbands (the cheap "sticky" ones from Target have been the best until now), but none of them would stay on once I started moving around.  My hairdresser proclaimed that I do not have a very "prominent occipital bump" which was most likely contributing to the problem.  

Lately I have read of people singing the praises of various velvet backed headbands on their blogs (there are several different brands (BIC Bands, Glitter Bands, and Sweaty Bands to name a few...).  I was intrigued at the concept of a headband that truly didn't slip (even though I was aware that my problem was not entirely related to slippage).  

A couple of days ago while I was perusing the sale racks at REI, I noticed that they were selling Sweaty Bands.  So I decided to buy one (at $15 for one band, I have previously been unwilling to buy one and pay for shipping) and try it out.  

I'm here to tell you...they don't slip.  Tiny occipital bump be warned...you will no longer be headband free!  It's now 4:30pm and I've been wearing it all day.  I even went to Costco while wearing it.  It doesn't budge.  

I still need to test it while running, but I have high hopes for this one!

Now I want one in every color...