Each Day Is a Gift

Quick and short run on the home TM before going to the airport to pick up Bryan who's returning home from his Boston and Cleveland auditions.  Took him straight to Solitude so he could ski with his cousins and join up with Eric.  It was great to see the extended family at the ski resort although Prez. and I refrained from skiing even though we hold a season ski pass.  We consciously chose to not participate in activities that we might get hurt. 

Had a wonderful evening spending time and visiting with our two sons.  They have such maturity and share with us many insights about missionary work.  It is marvelous to learn from your own children.  It is now their turn to pray for us while we labor in the field and they pursuit their "eternal family plan". 

Took Eric to the airport at 6am for his flight home to his wife and children.  It has been nice to have him here for the last few days.  What a good son, father and husband...very proud of him. :)

Went to the LC and found lots of TMs available.  1 mile warm up.  1 min on/off x 25.  (ran the first 5 cycles @ 8:34/9:31 and the remaining 20 cycles @ 7:30/9:43)  0.5 mi cool down.  7 miles in 62min. Shins tugging.  :(

Swam 12 laps.  Had to cut out the jacuzzi time to go visit teaching in the morning.

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Study and practice pre-MTC assignments.

Lots of congratulatory phone calls and messages.  The highlight was one from Dr. Bigelow, Bryan's viola professor.  Did Webelos Den Mtg. on Citizen activity badge.  Nearly got taken out by the deacons playing bb in the gym.  :)

4.5 easy miles on the track with Karen.  15 laps alternating between back stroke and freestyle.  Both of my tibia has been tender to touch and worrisome the last couple of weeks.  I am going to scale down my mileage and hope to survive the upcoming marathons (again).  :)

121 days till we enter the MTC.  Need to increase my daily study/practice time and begin to tackle the task of de-junking the house.  There is SO MUCH preparation that needs to be done and SO LITTLE time!  :)

Invited Karen over to workout in my humble home gym! :)  She ellipticalled and I ran easy on the TM.  Then we did the AM/PM yoga!

Then hubby and I went to the temple.  Went to the dentist for panorax, so the missionary dental papers is now completed.  Waited for over two hours at the doctor's office for my pap screening and the second HepAB shot. 

Hubby had to rush home to release a missionary while I went to Diane's daughter's bridal shower.  Then we waited up till 11pm to welcome another missionary home.  He is accompanied by his parents (his dad is our bishop).  I had a wonderful visit with his parents while hubby was doing the release interview with him.  This is by far the favorite part of hubby's calling as Stake Pres. to see these missionaries return with honor.  :)

A very frustrating morning.  We had originally planned to run to Highland but the road was covered with a layer of black ice and slippery snow.  So Karen and I drove to the LC in her husband's jeep which was slip-sliding at every stop sign.  

There was only one TM available and we checked the mileages on the ones being used, most were under a mile, meaning the treadmills will not be opened up anytime soon.  Orange singlet guy (who usually finishes his run just before tread class) had only 2+ miles and packages of gu laying on the floor which means he's there for long run.  So we decided to run couple of miles on the track then go down to the front desk just before 9am to get a tread class pass (because the staff will not give out passes until 9am).  The track was crowded and to make matter worse, one of the lanes was blocked off with "wet floor" signs.  After several laps and it was obvious that the floor was dry, we gathered up the signs.  Then after 2.25 miles we went down to get our pass at 8:55.  The girl who must be a new staff, apologetically said she has mistakenly given out the passes early and there are no more passes.  This made us SO MAD!!!!  We went back up to the cardio room to see if by chance any TM is available...no such luck.  Aaarrrgggh!!! 

We went back down stair to ask for someone with the authority to come change the flow of traffic/direction on the track.  After much complaining and waiting, we went back up to run on the track, hoping the staff would get the permission to come change the directional arrow.  After couple of laps, the staff pulled us over to inform us that the person with the authority would not give permission to change direction.  Of course, we knew that would be the case.  We have already tried and wrote Dan, who is in charge of the rec. center and doesn't ever come on Fri. with ZERO response.  This is so frustrating.  The staff made an even more absurd suggestion that we go down and run around the basketball court!  It is obvious that the staffs and those in charge are not runners!  Grrrrr!!!!

So back on the track we ran.  By now, the track is like grand central station!  At one point I bumped my left arm/shoulder into a pillar/post that was on the building outside wall as I was trying to pass on the outside lane as the inside lanes were clogged up by walkers 3-4 across and a mother veered her stroller into my lane probably attempting to pass.  I was glad that at least it is not the same arm that got the HepAB shot...so now I'm running with bilateral sore arms! :/  I should mention that I've been taken out by strollers and toddlers and nearly collided with little boys who would sprint out in front of me when they saw me coming and then only to come to a sudden stop when they ran out of steam. 

We called it quit after 64+ laps.   Got locked out of my home because I forgot to bring house key and did not know the PIN to our new garage door.  So Karen took me home where she fed me lunch! :)

Only had time to swim 20 laps.  Just as well.  The left hip flexor, right knee and both lower legs are not happy right now.