Boys Day

I had a coaches safety meeting this morning, so the boys took off today for some bonding time in DC.  I get to spend so much time with Zack between school and crew that John is making a real effort to do more things with Zack.  There's been some real competitive chess matches going on, they've hit the movies and today they went to breakfast at the Silver Dinner and then to DC.

Neanderthal John

Neanderthal Zack

They seemed to have a great time visiting the Natural History Museum.  I'm not sure how I feel about the Neanderthal pictures... weird, creepy, bizarre... 

What a sad, sad day

Today Leonard Nimoy died.  He was 83.  I can't believe Mr. Spock is dead.  Star Trek is and always has been such a part of my life.  I always said Star Trek TOS was like mashed potatoes, a total comfort food.  Something I could watch whenever I didn't want to have to work at paying attention or concentrate.  When I just wanted something to be comforting.   I remember when DeForest Kelley died.  He was the first one of the group to die and I remember thinking, now they can never make another movie, they'll never be altogether again.  The end of an era, and now Mr. Spock is gone.  I feel very sad.  I think I'll be watching a lot of Star Trek in the next couple of days.

When I went to my first, and only Star Trek convention.  Leonard Nimoy was there and I remember I planned on being all cool and collected.  No big deal.  But then I saw him come out on stage and I was giddy as a school girl.  I wanted up jump up and down and scream, I didn't, but I wanted to!  What a sad, sad day.  An amazing Sci Fi Icon!

It's Bragging time...Brenna Hyzy version

So my precious baby girl, the same girl who once took a zero in Spanish, because she didn't know which basket to put her homework in, the same girl who was thrilled when she got a B, who was happy to be "average" if it meant it didn't interfere with her social life.  The same girl who refused to take her Algebra book to class with her because it was "too heavy."  This girl has decided she's going to graduate school, she's taken the GRE and she's been accepted to the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point!

She's been working with her advisor at Radford and the man she worked for this summer at Virginia Tech and they both suggested this program and actually they spoke with the director.  Apparently he was so impressed with Brenna and her work and skills that they pretty much created this graduate program for her and her skill set!  That's pretty freaking amazing if you ask me!  She will work as a TA and they will be giving her a yearly stipend which should help pay for a good portion of her tuition and living expenses.  I mean Duh!  No brainer!   She didn't want to do it at first, I think she's a little worried about about being pigeon-holed with bats which probably aren't her first choice.  But for now, it's what she knows and what she's good at and what they want her for, so she's going with it.  She'll be 24 and have a masters degree and can do whatever she wants.  I'm very excited and very proud, but I'm also just a tiny, toosh sad.  She's going all the way to Wisconsin, that's a long way away! :o(   AND she has to go up in May, right after graduation... so we don't even get to hang out over the summer. :o(  She and John are going to go up in May and make sure they get everything settled and then Zack and I will road trip up and visit later in the summer.  Its going to be hard to have her so far away.  I like hanging out with her, we have fun together and now she's going to be far, far away!   I don't like my babies growing up and away! 

Tryouts

We made it through tryouts.  In the school, it certainly wasn't any fun for the boys to run the mile around the school hallways, but they did it.  We had 4 brand new boys come out and 2 that did Fall so that was a little bit exciting.  We ended up keeping everyone.  Didn't make any cuts.  I'm not sure that's the right decision, but there were really only 2-3 that should have been cut and we just didn't have the heart to do it.  We have enough boats, so we kept them and we'll see what happens.  Even so, I still got an ICBTS (I can't believe this shit) email from a mom who insisted that we shouldn't cut anyone because we are a club and paid for by the parents of the team members and she didn't want us to get into any trouble cutting a kid who wanted to participate in the sport.  First of all....WE ARE NOT A CLUB, we are a VARSITY SPORT!  Secondly, it's such a relief to know this mom is looking out for us, so that we don't get into any trouble.  Here's a big can of Shut the Hell Up!  Made me want to cut her kid, just because.  Just proves to me that no matter what we do - someone is going to give us shit.  No win!

Zack did great, of course, there was no doubt.  We ended up with 50 boys and 35 girls.  The girls cut 3 and that was it.  We hit the magic number, 80 - that's what our Treasurer needed to make the budget work.  So, I guess everyone is happy....

I just love this picture.  So many Ergs, just waiting.  Representing so much hard work, so much potential.  It's going to be a great season!

Spring means Spring....seriously

Tomorrow is the first official day of the Crew Spring Season, starting off with tryouts and this is what we're looking at...

It's not a lot of snow, but it's freaking snow!!  Which means we'll be doing all the tryouts, including our mile run inside the school.  That sucks for everyone.  Even the dogs are like "what the hell??"  Plus, it's not helping the ice melt down at the boathouse.  Come on Mother Nature... cut us some slack!

What the hell Mother Nature....

4 snow days and 3 2-hour delays later, we are all pretty shell shocked.

We are not used to this shit.  Seriously 3 degrees!!  That doesn't take into account the wind chill.  We've had lots of wind, temps at -17 with the wind.  Yuck!

The best way to spend the snow/cold day!  Even the Naked Gnome (courtesy of Gp Bud) needed to come in and warm up!

Scrapbook success!

We've had a pretty crazy winter lately.  It's not that there's been so much snow, but it's been icy, windy, cold and just miserable for the most part.  The very first "snow day" of the year, the school system didn't call it and they were lambasted about it.  I think they may still be licking their wounds.  The result... if there's even a flake in the air, heck if they even predict a flake might come down, they are canceling school or at least delaying us!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, at least not  yet, we haven't gone over our allotment of days so okay so far.  The result of our last 3 snow days...

#1 - I discovered The Blacklist on Netflix!  Totally addicted.  I have literally watched 30 hours straight of this stupid show.  33 episodes in the first season and 11 episodes in the 2nd season to get caught up and current.  Much to my shame and humiliation... I actually paid $1.99 for the last 6 episodes on iTunes because I couldn't wait!

#2 - I have pretty much single-handedly eaten every scrap of unhealthy food in this house!

#3 -  My 2014 scrapbook is done!

Before

After

I really need to take stock in Shutterfly... those orange envelopes just seem to multiply of their own accord.  I'm feeling pretty good, I still have a couple "special" projects that need completion.  Zack's sophomore year of crew and John and the kids trip to Alaska, but otherwise I'm caught up.  Maybe if we get a few more snow days I can get those taken care of as well.

Valentines Day

As always my most hated holiday rolled around again... John had some 'use or lose' leave, so he took off to Buffalo to see his family, so Zack and I were home alone for the weekend.   I was looking forward to a weekend of catching up on my DVRed shows and scrapbooking.

I started the morning off with a run.  I really didn't want to do it, but the weather is supposed to get hellish in the next few days.  I tried out my brand new Nike running vest (that I forgot I had).  The temperature was low 20's and cloudy, but my vest was awesome!!  I was warm enough that I had to unzip a little bit.  I ran 6.5miles and it was great!  Seriously... probably the best run I've had all year. I didn't stop to walk at all, only paused at 2 stoplights.  I wasn't speedy, but about 10:33min, a good, solid, steady pace.  I was very happy, I felt good, strong!  

Treated myself to a muffin, haven't had one in months, but I think Valentines day is the perfect excuse  for a muffin!  And it was GOOD!  A little wine and some Project Runway and Top Chef and the day was a success!

At work, I shared the story of the genesis of my hatred for Valentines Day.  Year after year in high school, watching Suzy, Buffy and Sissy get flower, after flower, after flower delivered until their arms were full and they needed help from their sycophant admirers to help carry them all day. While the rest of us poor schmucks sat in first period and tried to get their classwork done among the exited squeals and giggles.  Whatever.... Anyway, I shared that story, much like performance art, and the next day I found this waiting on my desk at work.  The Library Ladies are so sweet and so kind!

Meanwhile in Buffalo....

John is having fun in the snow in Buffalo!  Literally, he is enjoying the snow... thank goodness it's in Buffalo and not here.  While I know we haven't really had a bad winter, but I'm done.  I don't want any more snow. I'm ready for Spring to arrive.  

He's been visiting with all the family, dinner, bowling, beer and fun.   Zack and I plan to end the evening with the classic... 16 candles!

Run This Year

I'm still on task with my Run (and Row) This Year Resolution.  The whole getting up and working out at 530am at Golds Gym is really working well for me.  I still don't like the getting up, but the being done before work far outweighs the "hate getting up" part.  I've also found that if I'm able to get my errands and other stuff done by 230pm, then I can sneak a quick 20min nap in before practice and that really helps as well!

Hit my 200 mile mark and printed off my bib.  I love the bibs, it's funny how such simple thing - a different colored bib for each 100 miles, really provides inspiration.  I want that next bib!

BTW - It's been 43 days since my last fruit snack and it's STILL killing me!

It's fixin' to get crazy! No wait.. it's already crazy!

I've found the perfect picture to sum up how crazy things are and how crazy things are going to get.  We're one week away from Tryouts and that means the Spring Season!  I've got registration, tryouts, membership meetings, work, practice, Crew council, PWCA, trying to get my workout on and it goes on and on. Not to mention all the cooking and cleaning that I'm NOT getting done!  This sums up how far I'm slipping...

I actually went to my yoga class, out in public without any toenail polish on!  I don't think I've ever done that in my life!  Even John, said "I don't think I've ever seen your toes without polish!"  Before I know it, we're going to be out on the water and the regattas are going to start and then....Yikes, hold on tight!

My latest obsession

My latest obsession!  These are very similar to the juices I get when I'm doing my Juice Cleanses, but  way cheaper! They aren't quite as big either, that means fewer calories and they are sooooo tasty. I've been drinking one everyday for breakfast and the milk one every night.  The milk one is almost exactly the same as the Choco Maca Milk that I get at the juice bar and it is to die for!!   It's my night time treat!  Better than wine, better than muffins...no...not that good... but close! :o)  Certainly better for me than muffins.

Golds Gym Erg Sprints

Our 2nd Erg Sprint competition at Gold's Gym today and we absolutely SLAYED IT!!!  The kids were amazing, I told them at practice I wanted us to sweep the medals, and by god, that's what they did.  The boys took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in every event we entered, except for one.  And actually Woodbridge took 1st place in every event they entered!  Including the much anticipated Mixed relay. Zack didn't compete in anything except the 1st ever Parent/Child relay!  I am proud to say we came in first in the Mother/Son category... and no... we weren't the only team.  We beat out 2 other teams.  So for the next year I can say "I'm a recored holder!"  And trust me... I'm going to milk that for all I'm worth!  We each had to row 250meters.  I was incredibly stressed and nervous, I felt like I suddenly couldn't remember how to erg at all!  I just didn't want to embarrass Zack. I think I did okay, kept my split under 1:50 and didn't pass out, throw up or cry like a baby.  I don't hardly remember any of it, except at the beginning, realizing I was at a 40 stroke rate and was going to kill myself and then Zack telling me to settle...I don't think at the heart of it all I'm really much of a competitive person!  It's so stressful! But, I'm glad we did it, more glad that Zack even wanted to do it with me and even gladder that we got 1st place medals out of it!!

That's so attractive

I don't even remember what he was saying to me, but I'm sure it was effective strategizing!

New Years Resolution Update...

It's been 35 days since my last fruit snack!  35 hellish, temptation fraught days.  By far the hardest part of the resolution.  They are just such a handy little snack when you are feeling a tad peckish... but I've been strong.  I'm also still working out on my schedule - 530am Mon and Friday Erg class,  Sunday afternoon Erg class and at least 3 runs per week.  I also added Weds Yoga (more about that later).  

I also tried a new, kind of bizarre  class called SurfSet.  It's all done on this surfboard that is balance on inflated exercise balls.  It's supposed to work your core continually while you are doing aerobic, stretching, flexiblity.  The amazing Angie Hart is the instructor and that's part of the reason I decided to try it.

It was fun, but quite a bit bizzare.  I was able to do everything, but it is a lot of balancing.  I didn't get a great workout, because I was spending so much time thinking and trying not to fall off my surfboard, but it was entertaining.  I think I'm going to stick with my Yoga classes.  I think they will end up being better for me.

Meanwhile, I'm also still working out with Mike C and the boys during winter conditioning.  Sometimes that means a double workout day.  All the better to offset my eating habits! :o)  

Yesterday they had a surprise 2K test!  Zack did really well, bettered his last score by 21 seconds!  I was very happy for him!  Since it was a test, we didn't get to erg along with them, we were busy watching, evaluating, encouraging and recording.  Since they did a 2K, I felt like I should do one, so this morning before my treadmill run,  I did my 2K test.  And I bettered my score by 26 seconds!

Post 2K

Today's results:

Time - 8:40, split - 2:10, s/r 27, watts - 159, watt/weight - 1.27

Last time:

Time - 9:06, split - 2:16, s/r 27, wats - 137, watt/weight - 1.1

All this working out with the team and on my own is doing something!

Happy Anniversary

24 years!  How the hell does that happen?  I've been a Hyzy equally as long as I was a Hall.  How weird is that.  I remember my mom saying something similar once, that she'd been a Hall longer than she was a Horn and now I'm moving in on that milestone.
It was a very quiet day.  We exchanged cards and went out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  So yummy!
It's been quite the 24 years.  I would say 95% good times, some rough patches but that's to be expected when you are with the same person, day in and day out... 2 beautiful amazing kids... a success all the way around!

Ended the evening with this amaze balls cheesecake.  Jesus, I only ate half of it, but I'll probably have  to run freaking 45 miles to burn off the calories. Carpe Diem!

First Snow Run of the Year

It was really only a dusting of snow, but plenty chilly.  Decided to head out into the cold, instead of doing the treadmill thing and it was good.  I don't mind running in the cold, I don't mind running in the dark - it's just both things together that I can't do.

A snowy walk later in the day.  The pups definitely enjoyed the snow.