Meh

I have really fallen out of the blogging habit.  I don't particularly like blogger, there are some blogs I try to comment on (Patti) and I don't think the comments are coming through.  Plus the pictures only show up half the time.  It just seems like a real pain.

There is really nothing going on.  I guess that is a good thing.  My weight is holding at around 115.  Exercise isn't great but it is happening every now and again.  If I can make it through this heat wave I think I will get a little bit of the running mojo back.  I don't know why I signed up for the stupid half.  I am somewhat regretting that.  The weather did cool off a lot yesterday and I got 3 miles in if you count the walk with Bailey.  I did drills and ran the last .25 in a 13:09 pace.  I was very pleased with that.  Last week was a recovery week so I did 2.6 miles at a 15:45.  The temperature was fine, mid 70's but with 95% humidity.  I got home right as it started to pour rain.  This weeks 6 miler has me a little concerned but I will walk it if I have to.  I don't hold out much hope for this half being a stellar run.  I just hope we have fun.  In other news, HMF just started training so at least we are on even ground when it comes to endurance.  She has ran one mile everyday this week following the LRM training schedule (I need to look that up).  I had to take Mr. Bailey to the vet yesterday, more on that below, and saw Dr. Suzanne (no sure what I used to call her in the CK blog) and she hadn't started training yet.  She was, however, in running clothes so I told her that counted for something.  She is signed up for Route 66 in November.  I am kind of tempted to sign up with her and suffer through but I don't really know if I want to do that to myself.  I am hoping that the weather gets cooler and running gets a little easier.  We shall see.

Yesterday was a telework day so I got up early to run before I started working and saw that Bailey's eye was in pretty bad shape.  He has been suffering from allergies for awhile but with his issues I have put off going to the vet.  I had no choice yesterday.  I took him on a short walk and at one point he shook his head and goop came out of his eye like snot 😟

My poor little man

I sent Suzanne a text asking her if she was working and she said no but she had to go in at noon to check on a patient so we could meet her up there.  My thinking was going to see her instead of going to our normal vet would kind of confuse Bailey and maybe keep him from having a full on anxiety attack.  It kind of worked.  He did fine in the waiting room, walked around sniffing getting on the scale for a treat - this was something we learned in puppy kindergarten and was for the most part fine.  When we went back to the room he started to get a little worried.  When the tech came in he was full on shaking.  She took him back with a little protest but he did go back with her.  Suzanne said once he was back there he was obviously scared but he let her do what she needed to do and even let her give him a kiss on the nose.  There was lots of growing once he got back to the room but that was to be expected.  He didn't snap at anyone and let Suzanne come around the exam table and took a treat (didn't eat it yet) that she dropped.  Anyway, he has the equivalent of puppy pink eye.  It isn't contagious so he is at daycare today with the instructions to  call me if he starts acting like he doesn't want to play.  He needs his eye drop every 8 hours so they will give him one around 1:30 so we can keep him on schedule.  I will call them in an hour or so since the regular girl wasn't at the desk and they were kind of busy.  His buddy Pepper came in and they were ready to play.  He was acting tired last night but I think it was more the stress than they eye infection.

Work is going to get interesting again.  They filled the lead position over my job with the one person everyone dislikes.  She is a controlling micromanager and that just isn't a good fit for the job.  I am almost having flashbacks of T-Rex.  The one good thing is that she isn't a supervisor.  I worry that the guy that I work with closer with than any of the other planners is going to leave because of it.  That will be bad for me and the district.  He sent an email to the bosses and told them that if she got the job he was going to start looking for other jobs.  I told him that was probably the kiss of death 😬 things like that never turn out the way you want them to.  Sure enough.  I almost put in for a job in contracting but I decided to give her a chance.  I will be eligible to retire in 9 years and 2 months.  I hope I will be able to afford it.

too freaking hot

Not much going on.  It is so hot outside that the running groups have all cancelled the group runs, not that I would participate.  It seems life has been hectic yet I can't think of much I have done lately.  My trainer is on vacation and I haven't gone to the gym once since she has been gone.  I have ran a little but it gets so hot so fast that I barely make it a mile before I am just done.  At least my weight is holding.

I broke down and took Bailey to a behaviorist over his increasing possessiveness o me.  I thought it went well until we were leaving and he jumped up and nipped her on the arm.  I'm not sure what to think about it.  I am almost convenience he just doesn't like going places all the time.  The behaviorist gave me a lot of information but I literally forgot everything she said after he acted out.  She was fine and just brushed it off, it wasn't a serious bite, just a back off my mom warning but still.  He does fine at daycare so he is still getting a little socialization. 

those eyes kill me 

his buddy Charlie at his birthday party

daycare pictures

new chew bone

I miss my old blog friends

I really miss reading the blogs of my old CK buddies.  My account expired but I am tempted to renew it just so I can go back in and copy my old journal.  I also know that is the only way I will be able to keep in touch with Jay since he doesn't do facebook.  Sometimes change makes me sad. 

Everything hurts this morning.  I got up and ran my drills, which was just about 2 miles.  It is hard on Tuesday mornings because I have to be back home and ready to work at 7 and I have to take Mr. Personality Bailey for a short walk or I will hear about it the rest of the day.  All of my 1/4 mile drills were right at 14 mm.  JG wants each quarter mile to be around 3:45 and I pretty much met that.  It doesn't help that it is surface of the sun hot. 

After work I did 30 minutes at the gym. 

45 seconds X 3
squat press (20)
mountain climbers on bosu
overhead carry. (20)

45 seconds X 2
single leg glute bridge
side plank hip raise each side.

I was drenched in sweat and glad I was just doing 30 minutes.

I am trying to get my days switched around though because 1. the girl that works out with me on Tuesdays is a freaking machine and I am holding her back 2. the stupid firefighter training Dennis goes to each week was switched to Tuesday from Wednesday and it just makes it difficult.  We workout at 5:30 so I have to leave at 5, Dennis doesn't get off work until 5, if he's lucky, and has to drive 30 + minutes.  Bailey and Marcy don't get along but for the most part she just ignores him.  They eat everyday at 6 and of course I would be at the gym at that time and Dennis would be rushed to get them fed and out the door.  You can't leave food down as that is a huge trigger for the dogs.  Since I telework that day we don't have the advantage of having a tired Bailey.  So it would be easier to just change days.  Next week we are switching it to Monday because I have a doctor appointment and Bailey has his behaviorist appointment.  The trainer is going to Europe for two weeks and will be out after next Tuesday.  I need to make sure and keep myself accountable for workouts even in her absence.

Kind of concerned about the doctor appointment.  I have lost a little more weight since the last time I was in and I think she may not renew my prescription for Sax.  I am on a low dose now and I have all kinds of fears the weight will come back when I stop taking it.  I am thinking about not taking the meds until after I see her so maybe I will have more of an appetite?  I know that sounds like some serious disordered eating.  I was going to add a but to that but it is what it is.  I don't care if I lose more weight, I just don't want to gain.  I would go so far as to say I like how I look but the lovely roll of skin from the years of extreme gain/loss/gain is disgusting.  I don't think it is in the cards go get it removed, just too expensive and painful.  At any rate, I weighed in at 116.6 this morning.

Tonight I am not going to do anything but watch the last few episodes of Mindhunter in preparation for the new season. 

struggle bus

Even though my weight is down to 115.4 workouts seem harder than they were 10 pounds ago!!  Last night's torture included

4X
10 assisted pull ups
15 cable rows (2 at 15 2 at 12.5)

3X 30 seconds
bicep curls with red band
tri pull downs with green band over trx bar

3X 30 second
rope pull
lower bicep curl (bar to bellybutton)

2X 30 second
Alternating toe reach
bicycle

I normally don't have a lot of pain with abs but this one about killed me.

In addition, the running portion of my workout routine has been equally horrific.  I did 4 miles two Saturday's ago and considered ubering back to my car at the half way point.  I ended up walking the last 1.5 miles.  Last weekend I was supposed to do 2 but it was closer to 1.5 and I walked the entire time with Bailey.  I was exhausted from the trip to Dallas and I just couldn't muster the will or the energy.  This weekend is 5 miles and I really just want to quit already.  Luckily the half marathon isn't until March but I just hate every minute of it.  The weather is supposed to be better this weekend but I still think I am going to opt for the treadmill.  JG told me to aim for walking 3.2 and the "running" portions 3.8.  I normally would do 4.2 but with as bad as it has been going he is right...that's what I pay him for.

So last week was interesting.  I had fun hanging out with my friend and I learned a lot but I kind of wish we had only volunteered one day and spent one day at the conference.  I have a renewed energy to get involved in rescue again and even went to my therapist and talked to him about it.  I learned that in the Dallas area there are 5 times as many stray cats as dogs, which is pretty typical.  A lot of shelters will no  longer take in cats (I am sure this is limited to "feral" but I didn't get a chance to ask a lot of questions) and opt for TNR.  I think this is what I want to focus on.  I did inquire with the SPCA about volunteering again but I think I will try and volunteer with the local TNR group.  The SPCA has already responded, the TNR group has not.  I have a lot of baggage when it comes to rescue groups and none of it is from the animals.  People are assholes and I have to go in with that mindset.  I also do not want to go all in and get involved with the committees and board, I just want to put in my time and go home.  I found out about a reserve medical corps that coordinates with shelters and rescues in emergencies that I have signed up for.  That is what I am most interested in tbh but with my job it is difficult to gauge what my involvement could be.  I talked to someone yesterday and they have started the required back ground checks.  There is training through Best Friends for emergency operations in two weeks but they ask for a 2 week commitment.  I know there will be training through OKMRC and I hope that I can maybe get into some of this through them.

There is lots more I could say about the conference but it is still kind of hard to wrap my mind around.  The best thing, when I first started in rescue almost 20 years ago they were estimating about 8 million animals were killed only because they didn't have a home, it is now less than one million.  The goal is no kill by 2025.  If I hadn't seen this data I would have never thought it possible. 

OK, what else...

I have an appointment set up for Bailey with a behaviorist because he is becoming overly protective of me in public places.  I have to get that under control or he will have to stop going places with me. If you know me you now I need a sidekick and there aren't many Hunter and Cookie's in this world. Those two spoiled me with how awesome they were. 

Have I posted since Bailey's birthday party?