Lazy morning in Mtl

Greetings - I have already managed to be totally befuddled by the time change this morning so I think it's almost 9:30 but who the heck knows. Have had a great visit to Mtl, with lots of wine, good food and spending waaaaay to much money but thats the point. Currently mulling brunch/cupcake options. Mmmmm.... Cupcakes :).

La belle ville

By the time you read this I will already be well installed in one of my favourite cities ever - la belle Montreal.

I'll have arrived there by drinking wine and eating free chocolates courtesy of Via1 - I've been getting pretty spoiled lately by taking it almost every time I travel by train but to be honest - it's really the only way to do it. Unlimited drinks, good food, not having to deal with the rabble scrabble.... bliss.

I love Montreal because I know it well enough to get around/use the transit systems yet every time I visit there is somewhere new and wonderful to discover. I can still wander the streets and get that little thrill when I realize I have arrived at one of my favourites (Juliette et Chocolate - yum!) but being open minded, can still find some super cool new favourites as well. I get to hear people use their super weird French but hopefully that means I get to practise my somewhat terrible French.

The people are way more stylish than here in the O-town, there is always something a little weird going  down and the shopping is ever so much better.

Oh and did I mention its where some of my favourite people live? Am so excited to get to drink some wine, do some gossiping, shopping and get into some form of shenanigan. Will report back tomorrow on what went down (well, the stuff that is appropriate to report back on).

Accomplished - or am I?

My last post before NaBloPoMo kicked off was about my newfound hobby of running. I am pleased to announce that I did manage to keep it up and on September 23rd I ran/walked a 5K with a time of 39:03 - just squeaking under my self imposed goal of under 40 minutes. A few weeks later, to support the local charity campaign, I ran/walked another in 38:23.

I was, to be totally honest, absolutely flabbergasted I beat my time on the second race - it was a windy day, a hilly course and once we started, I was almost immediately at the back of the pack. My very dear  X-ine was waiting for me at the finish line though to cheer me on (and I had Gangnam Style pounding in my ears) and so I pulled it off.

That's generally how I roll - I pull things off. Even if I start at the back of the pack/with less money/unsure of the subject, I do OK in the race/at running a program/passing a test. And it did work for running and I am so proud of myself but even though I am good at 'pulling things off' I am also a perfectionist so I still want to do better. Especially at work, I know that people think I do great work but there's always that little voice pushing me to do better. We won't get into the psychological ramifications of it ABSOLUTELY being my Mother's voice that I hear.

So - what's next then? I'm trying to keep up the running, or will as long as the weather is still halfway decent and the goal for next year is to run a FULL 5K. There will definitely not be any 'pulling that off' so here's hoping I can develop a little discipline, and don't get too comfy on the couch, over the winter.

NaBloPoMo

Well, here we are again.

I last did this two years ago and while that was a crazy month of changing jobs/meeting a boy, it was nice to have a little routine so we're going to try again.

How are you? Apologies for being so incommunado, it's been a busy fall. I am currently in FULL TIME French training. It's great as it will definitely help my cheminement de carriere, but it doesn't prevent it from kind of being a pain in the ass at times. It was at first nice to escape my crazy busy office and just focus on my language but I am now starting to miss being in the mix - less than 3 weeks to test day though!

Anyways, what is to come this month? A few trips, finally breaking a self imposed shopping embargo, I am sure I will ruminate on my neuroses and my attempts to ignore them, whatever silly news items catch my attention (am a little TOO into various European Royal families at the moment) and whatever else it takes to write a post a day a month.

See ya tomorrow!

Running

I recently pinned this:

I spent about a half hour running around my neighbourhood this evening. Not all running, more than half that time walking, especially after making it to the top of a way steeper hill than it looks.

Why? Because I was ambitious/dumb enough to sign up for the Army Run at the end of September. I signed up this in, um.... June? Let's just say I didn't keep to the workout schedule I envisaged and am now staring down a somewhat scary distance in less than 6 weeks. Thank goodness Z (my race buddy) e-mailed me expressing similar sentiments today.

But I've now laid out the training schedule, pinned up the race course in my cube so that I keep seeing it out of the corner of my eye to remind me to not eat that giant italian sandwich two hours before I'm supposed to go for a run (Dirienzos - delicious, but dangerous), and am resolved.

Let's hope my stubborn nature can work this out, otherwise if someone could pick me up along the side of the canal 6 Sundays from now around - that would be great.

Pinterest Challenge!

Yes, yes, I know it's been a while (Chantal :P). But summer time is not the best for sitting around a computer, it's a time for sun and fun and this year, lots and lots of weddings. Pictures to come, I promise.

So what has brought me skulking back to the blog? Well, if you know me, I've probably mentioned my love for the blog Young House Love. John and Sherry are the authors of the blog who talk about their DIY approach to gorgeous home renovation. And much like me, Sherry has an unhealthy love for Pinterest.

She proposed last a week a 'Pinterest' challenge, where people actually act on something that inspired them off that site. Now if you check out my Pinterest account here you'll see that there's a lot of fashion and not so much home reno since I live in a condo and really have no intention of tearing down walls anytime soon. However, I have been tried to get a bit more organized as well as allowing myself time for reflection at the end of the day (trolling twitter is not exactly a restful thing for my brain).

Thus, I was inspired by and wanted to put my own spin from this idea. After hemming and hawing about what I want to jot down at the end of the day, along with the ongoing suggestions from my awesome trainer Burke (goodness this post is link heavy) - I came up with this:

It responds to my neurotic side and trying not to repeat an outfit within three weeks, my wish to be aware and proud of what I learn and accomplish each day, to take the time to enjoy some tunes and be more active. I'm planning on printing off a bunch and seeing how I do with taking the time at the end of each day and seeing what I put down.

Maybe it'll even spur a few more blog posts here and there... :)

Thoughts from a business trip

.... I'm rather sick of planes.

.... knowing I can expense my lunch is fun but I start to really miss actual food/my food (ie. I craved Dirienzos alllllll week).

.... the worst stuff you can watch on an airplane is the best. I was pretty stabby during a plane ride that was over three hours delayed that was going to give me less than four hours sleep before getting up to catch the NEXT plane but Terra Nova and New Year's Eve got me through it. (Though note to producers - there is no way in hell SJP and Zac Efron could be brother and sister. Ever.)

.... I can actually survive without blackberry/wifi contact but am still very relieved when I get back into cell/twitter/e-mail range.

.... Stuffed bears in airports is officially hilarious.




.... there is never any reason to unpack the night you get home. Nope. Not happening.

.... I may get on the plane with Starbucks but by the time I get up there, I am a northern girl.

.... People would come visit me right?