Thanksgiving over, back to work Monday, had few days of rest

Well, it is back to work on Monday after a few days off. It felt nice! I got to sleep a little later. I got to relax. I got to finally make it to yoga classes at Arrichion.  I still was not feeling well so I did not do the run on Sat and plus it was real cold. Last time, I did a run, I got a chest cold. I feel bad I missed the last few runs. I hope the group continue and I hope to see them someway. I really enjoy myself this time around with the group.

Thurs we went to Don and Sue's house for Thanksgiving. It was very nice for them to invite us. I got to play with the dogs. Sorta not the same without Beebee.  I  had a good time and got some cranberry relish to bring home. Friday, I got up early to get to yoga class at Arrichion. Lisako always teaches a wonderful class. I don't remember what else I did but I know I was busy. Sat, I forgo the run because it was too cold and went to an 8:30 am Sparta class, not a lot of people but it was a good class. Then we went to a yoga class at the YMCA taught by Heather. Then Joe made his turkey on the rotissierre. It was really good and quick to cook too, nice and moist. We had wine, sweet potatoes, spinach and stuffing and of course cranberry sauce from a can. Now we got leftovers for sandwiches, chili and maybe I will make some turkey congee. Today Sunday, I went to Sparta again. I think this class I can do every day since it is total body, supersets so your body is not too tired from just one muscle group. Wed, at Sparta, it's butt day so I am usually very sore afterwards and Thurs very tight! Supposedly this week Foundations class will start at Crossfit Goliah. I really want to take this because just doing 3 Foundations class back to back at Marvel and even at CrossFit Exchange just doesn't cut it for me. I am looking forward to it and maybe the lifts will make better sense.
I am thinking after my time is up at Marvel, I will not renew and just take a break from Crossfit or go to Crossfit Goliah to try it out. Not sure!

Today after a bout of not feeling well, I did some cooking today. I made a big batch of roasted vegetables -
mahi mahi, shrimp and scallops with a concoction of sauce I made up. It is spicy and strong.

I made my own rendition of sambal - which was a sauce that I tasted it at Merlions. The sauce, has lot of red hot chili peppers, garlic, onions, sesame oil and I added some shrimp paste, lime juice, sugar, to it.

I breaded the seafood and pan fry it with corn meal and egg mixture. Then I added the sambal sauce, along with some mango chutney and sweet pepper jelly. It was not too bad.

The roasted vegetables was lots of vegetables- green and yellow zucchini, celery, onion, carrots, brussel sprouts, cabbage - I tossed avocado oil, chili garlic sauce, sweet soy sauce, rosemary garlic, basil, oregano, paprika - laid it out on baking pan and roasted it until done at 450 F

Here are the pictures I took!

finally some time to relax obx friends and beach Thanksgiving

I have been neglecting to update my blog and what is the reason? None, just lazy or distracted!

It has been been a long while since I took some time off from work. I had wanted to take a trip to the beach in the summer but things got busy at work or I just did not plan things right. But one thing I did plan ahead of time was our trip to OBX in November. I would go every year to do the OBX half and stay in a big house with group of my good friends. We have lots of fun, laughter and drinks and eats. It is fun times. I enjoy it and makes my heart and soul feel good.

This year I had way too many injuries with my back, hip and foot so I did not train well so I did not race. I was a little bummed but  to think of it I really don't like running and getting up early morning I was OK with not doing the run but to just hang out with my friends. I did get back to running by joining the Fleet Feet No Boundaries program, a very fun group. I met the most interesting people and makes me want to get together with them. But for the last few times, I caught a real bad cold and just was not able to meet up with them. I sure hope they are doing OK.

This year with the trip, I did my planning as to what to bring to share. I decided to cooked everything and just bring it over and heat it up. I did a batch of buffalo wings and a batch of teriyaki wings and roasted brussel sprouts. I was  not sure if all would like it for the vegetable I mean. My group of friends I would not say are the healthiest eaters and they don't look like runners but they sure know how to have fun! Well, the sprouts were a big hit.

The house this time was much nicer and the best so far. The kitchen was bigger and the eating area nicer. The bedrooms layout was great. Even with people playing pool or watching TV , you can't hear them. I'm a very light sleeper. I think next year we will be staying there again. I would like to get back just to do another half next year. In as much the running is not fun, running with my friends is!

I had wanted to stay the whole week but I had other things to do and plus I will take off some other days or go on a long trip.

So this was as far as I got with this article. Since then I have been back to Marvel but only going on a Mon and Fri. I still g to group training with Jackie and want to continue. So much I want to do and not enough days of the week. I also try to fit in yoga and Sparta at Arrichion. I like to keep busy and also so much afraid to gain weight if I stop. Also it helps with my sleep if I do some form of exercise each day.

I went to one class at Marvel and we did a lot of sprints in the cold and somehow that did not sit well with my lungs and I caught a chest cold. I was miserable that I did nothing the weekend. I felt really weak and tired so good thing it never develop into bronchitis. Last week was a short week, worked Mon-Wed and Thurs was start of Thanksgiving. Work was quite busy for those 3 days and it sounds like it is going to pick up. I will be real busy but I seem OK with it. I like challenges and different and new things to do.

We did not have to cook this year. We went over Don and Sue's house. It is real nice. I really like them. I feel at home there. We met Don's sister and husband from VA, his first cousin Mike and wife and of course Janet and Kevin. On request, Joe made homemade pound cake from scratch and strawberry and mango sorbet - my favorite. Joe made a bucket for me too. It was a nice evening.

Today Sat Joe made turkey so he can have leftovers for sandwiches, chili, etc. Very nice dinner we had. We made spinach, sweet potatoes, stuffing, pie. So I need to work this off tomorrow.  I will post pictures later.

I sure miss Jackie. I only got to train with the group one day last week. I miss the group too. I know it was going to be hard this year for her. I don't think it ever gets easier but you get better at handling it. I worry about her but I try not to bother her. She needs her own time to sought things out. But I tell her that I am always there for her. Things will get better! I believe that.

So next Sat I will be going to another stretch and sip class- I love the yoga class event at Cloud's Brewing the last time. Joe went to and had a good time. This time the theme was toys for tots, so I will need to get a toy. It is also bringing in canned foods at Marvel.  Need to do that too!

Will write more! You know this is very hard for me to put thoughts and write them. So if some things don't make sense - let me know!

Until next time and I really need to get back to cooking!

Enjoy!