Another PB for me! Whohoo.... 35:17... yeah, yeah I know slow... but for me, it was this surreal, emotional moment crossing the finish line on Saturday.
I did the Komen Race for the Cure 5K (women's only race) and watching all these women's backs with signs dedicating their runs to family, friends, so many women who have made it past breast cancer and who have not.
I silently ran for my late step-grandmother Connie, and two others I know who have made it past this disease (both were diagnosed at too young of an age.)
And this was my first big cancer race/event. What I found amazing was all the sponsorship/swag they give away and well, all that money of trinketey crap could be put to better use, in my opinion. I know sponsors want to get out there and promote their stuff since they are giving money to sponsor the event, but please....who needs another canvas bag? or magnet?
After the race, I was going to go try dresses on for an upcoming wedding but being all hot, sweaty and just not in the mood... (and I was up in Seattle so plenty of opportunities abounded) and instead I decided to head over to one of their local farmer's markets.
Which did not disappoint.. I was in foodie heaven!!!! Tons and tons of local farmers produce (cherries, strawberries -- which i regret only buying a pint of!, japanese cukes, spring garlic...)
And this creamery that locally everyone raves about -- Estrella Creamery of Montesano -- was there! She shoots, she scores after waiting in a long line with a very pushy, indecisive woman in front of me whose kid I wanted to tie up to the tree with a dog leash. And this is the same Creamery that's coming to the market near me in July! Whohoo!
I love my local markets, but the U-district one is out of this world. It is all food (no handicrafts, all local and set up perfectly). Tacoma could take note, and I hope the upcoming one on 6th is set up in somewhat the same fashion.
And I have a new favorite local bakery -- Tall Grass. Its based out of Ballard, so its going to have to be a haul occasionally up there or to this U-district market. I ended up going with their pumpernickel -- and oh, wow... the loaf is almost gone as I speak.
I've shared some of the bread and cheese with co-workers and they gave it a thumbs up.
And I was able to make my lunches for the past two days with all local produce! Whohoo (salads with local made balsalmic vinegar, smoked salmon with goat cheese and pumpernickel bread, lots of fruit -- apples, rainier cherries, these amazing sugar snap peas -- some of the best yet I've had) ... keep the weather coming...Now I need to get creative with some of my other stuff i got from the CSA I belong to.. They've been a bit slow with some of their growth and this week it was lots of kale... which i know is a superfood but haven't really ever thought of it for more than just soups.
Anyone have any ideas? I've been trolling the internet for some recipes and it looks like pesto and soup and maybe throw in some shrimp quesadilas.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Bloody Monday...
We had heard rumblings for months. And I started getting phone calls and emails at 9 a.m. this morning. And in typical Liz fashion, I slept through the first two hours of it.
Well, my newspaper announced today that they are laying off 84 people, 5 in the newsroom. And even though there are numerous openings that have recently been vacated (two in my own sports department, leaving me now as THE only woman in two weeks... sigh...) they are still going to cut people from the newsroom, either through buyouts or layoffs.
According to one boss: "The voluntary portion of the newsroom layoffs will come from defined “work groups”. Folks with similar job titles and work responsibilities regardless of department make up a work group (e.g., team leaders, copy editors, reporters, photographers, page designers). A work group has to have two or more people in it to be considered. Selected work groups in the newsroom will be offered voluntary severance. If there are enough voluntary takers to meet the required number of cuts there won’t be involuntary layoffs. If enough employees don’t take the voluntary option, then involuntary layoffs will occur based (sic) the employees in the work group with the least tenure."
Read through the lines: Last one in, first one out. But I've heard rumblings that not one page designer is going to be cut. Uh, (a very weak) yay!
As I get through another buyout/layoff situation -- again -- in less than two years, I have to wonder: Is this industry worth it anymore? The aftermath of the second round of Dallas was hard enough to sit through and left some long-ranging blows.
There has been so much debate just amongst ourselves (with managers and with fellow low-totem colleagues) these past weeks, and I can see how unhappy everyone is. While I am truly grateful to still have a job, (as I have a mortgage to pay...) I wonder if it will still be here in say 5, 10, 15 years?
Our paper wasn't the only one to get hit today... the entire McClatchy chain took a massive throat-slasher (link here)
I'm just glad I was off today (i spent it enjoying the sun!, running errands and biking around downtown) and I'm off tomorrow (spending the day hanging out with Mindi in Seattle).
The funny thing is I was already planning on taking a few web courses online starting Wednesday. But this announcement makes it more imperative that I refocus where my career is headed. (I overheard part of this conversation at dinner at the Harmon Pub tonight where I could only nod my head and agree: people are age can no longer expect to stay in the same job from the time they graduate to their retirement. The days of a one-place career -- as many of our parents had -- are long gone...)
Well, my newspaper announced today that they are laying off 84 people, 5 in the newsroom. And even though there are numerous openings that have recently been vacated (two in my own sports department, leaving me now as THE only woman in two weeks... sigh...) they are still going to cut people from the newsroom, either through buyouts or layoffs.
According to one boss: "The voluntary portion of the newsroom layoffs will come from defined “work groups”. Folks with similar job titles and work responsibilities regardless of department make up a work group (e.g., team leaders, copy editors, reporters, photographers, page designers). A work group has to have two or more people in it to be considered. Selected work groups in the newsroom will be offered voluntary severance. If there are enough voluntary takers to meet the required number of cuts there won’t be involuntary layoffs. If enough employees don’t take the voluntary option, then involuntary layoffs will occur based (sic) the employees in the work group with the least tenure."
Read through the lines: Last one in, first one out. But I've heard rumblings that not one page designer is going to be cut. Uh, (a very weak) yay!
As I get through another buyout/layoff situation -- again -- in less than two years, I have to wonder: Is this industry worth it anymore? The aftermath of the second round of Dallas was hard enough to sit through and left some long-ranging blows.
There has been so much debate just amongst ourselves (with managers and with fellow low-totem colleagues) these past weeks, and I can see how unhappy everyone is. While I am truly grateful to still have a job, (as I have a mortgage to pay...) I wonder if it will still be here in say 5, 10, 15 years?
Our paper wasn't the only one to get hit today... the entire McClatchy chain took a massive throat-slasher (link here)
I'm just glad I was off today (i spent it enjoying the sun!, running errands and biking around downtown) and I'm off tomorrow (spending the day hanging out with Mindi in Seattle).
The funny thing is I was already planning on taking a few web courses online starting Wednesday. But this announcement makes it more imperative that I refocus where my career is headed. (I overheard part of this conversation at dinner at the Harmon Pub tonight where I could only nod my head and agree: people are age can no longer expect to stay in the same job from the time they graduate to their retirement. The days of a one-place career -- as many of our parents had -- are long gone...)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Run, Forest... errr, Liz, Run!
I did my third 5k today! And yes, I had another PB! Finished in 36:07 (ok, so that's turtle slow for some... but for me that's an 11 1/2 minute mile -- down from my 12-plus!)
And I almost didn't make it as oh, I overslept. Thank god I laid out my clothes and shoes the night before. I even set my alarm early but lately have been sleeping hard and didn't hear it.
I woke out of a dead sleep at 7:52(!) The Sound to Narrows race started at 8:30 and the drive across town and parking was going to take at least 15 to 20 minutes. (Funny story: I was so out of it and in such a hurry I wore my sports bra entirely the wrong way inside out for the entire run and didn't know it until I showered later in the day. Had to laugh at my dumbass-ness on that one...)
So i ran... and ran down the hill to the starting line... making it with three minutes to start. My quads are killing me now, and I know I am going to be walking funky tomorrow but man, was it worth it. I was running with a friend, who ran into some coworkers and in typical Liz fashion, they all had to laugh at the fact that I overslept and was running late as usual....
Exercise has become a priority for me the last several weeks as i rejoined Weight Watchers after Ireland. (All that weight I worked on last year was slowly creeping up again) and I can say I've lost 10 more pounds since I rejoined. Benefits of losing a stone of weight means new clothes shopping! All my stuff is getting way to loose to stay up even with a belt and you know you need new underwear when it is falling down around your ankles as you walk...LOL...)
So needless to say... this is one area of my life I can control right now and it makes me feel better. And today's run was way smoother not carrying around that extra bowling ball of weight. (I've also been going to a chiropractor for a couple weeks to work on my hip and neck since running and sitting at a computer have been doing some damage of late... I'm already getting early arthritis in my neck -- thanks internet and technology!)
And I've found that everyone out here is into some form of biking, running, hiking, etc. so that's been an incentive. Even had my 12-year-old little commuter/mountain bike (thats oh, my size and I love it) tuned up, outfitted with a new seat and I've been taking it for a spin. So the routine of late has been eating better also since the local farmers' markets are in full swing (I hit one on Thursdays and usually walk/bike to it downtown) and the other on Saturday across town is where I pick up a veggie share that i participate in from an local, organic farm
I'm starting to finally warm up to this Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Maybe the sun will stick around more often now!
Next week: Race for the Cure 5k in seattle, and then two the following week (Sunday is another cancer 5k walk up in seattle and July 4 is a four mile race in Lakewood!)
And I almost didn't make it as oh, I overslept. Thank god I laid out my clothes and shoes the night before. I even set my alarm early but lately have been sleeping hard and didn't hear it.
I woke out of a dead sleep at 7:52(!) The Sound to Narrows race started at 8:30 and the drive across town and parking was going to take at least 15 to 20 minutes. (Funny story: I was so out of it and in such a hurry I wore my sports bra entirely the wrong way inside out for the entire run and didn't know it until I showered later in the day. Had to laugh at my dumbass-ness on that one...)
So i ran... and ran down the hill to the starting line... making it with three minutes to start. My quads are killing me now, and I know I am going to be walking funky tomorrow but man, was it worth it. I was running with a friend, who ran into some coworkers and in typical Liz fashion, they all had to laugh at the fact that I overslept and was running late as usual....
Exercise has become a priority for me the last several weeks as i rejoined Weight Watchers after Ireland. (All that weight I worked on last year was slowly creeping up again) and I can say I've lost 10 more pounds since I rejoined. Benefits of losing a stone of weight means new clothes shopping! All my stuff is getting way to loose to stay up even with a belt and you know you need new underwear when it is falling down around your ankles as you walk...LOL...)
So needless to say... this is one area of my life I can control right now and it makes me feel better. And today's run was way smoother not carrying around that extra bowling ball of weight. (I've also been going to a chiropractor for a couple weeks to work on my hip and neck since running and sitting at a computer have been doing some damage of late... I'm already getting early arthritis in my neck -- thanks internet and technology!)
And I've found that everyone out here is into some form of biking, running, hiking, etc. so that's been an incentive. Even had my 12-year-old little commuter/mountain bike (thats oh, my size and I love it) tuned up, outfitted with a new seat and I've been taking it for a spin. So the routine of late has been eating better also since the local farmers' markets are in full swing (I hit one on Thursdays and usually walk/bike to it downtown) and the other on Saturday across town is where I pick up a veggie share that i participate in from an local, organic farm
I'm starting to finally warm up to this Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Maybe the sun will stick around more often now!
Next week: Race for the Cure 5k in seattle, and then two the following week (Sunday is another cancer 5k walk up in seattle and July 4 is a four mile race in Lakewood!)
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Learn words and feed people
There are downtimes at work where I have to look away from the page and the software I'm using is driving me insane.
But I need to still be sitting there. And well I stumbled across this site from one of my many mags.
Feed others [Now edited and fixed the link as Anna pointed out (thanks!) I had it wrong]
Not only does it build word skills but you help feed people. And I'm Polish so I always love to feed people: in real life and virtually.
But I need to still be sitting there. And well I stumbled across this site from one of my many mags.
Feed others [Now edited and fixed the link as Anna pointed out (thanks!) I had it wrong]
Not only does it build word skills but you help feed people. And I'm Polish so I always love to feed people: in real life and virtually.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
