Bring it on

Just registered for my first road race of the year and first since Grayson came to join us.  I haven't gotten in as much running as I would like.  I am still figuring out the logistics of dealing with a baby and getting onto a schedule that works for us.  But I am up to over 2 miles again at a relatively fast pace.

We had our training burn on Saturday and it felt great to be back in my gear.  Grayson had his first overnight with his grandparents.  It was my first night of 7 hours consecutive hours of sleep since I think May of last year.  My concerns of how comfortable would my air pack be, how would pumping in the back of the ambulance, and could I physically handle the day were my usual worrying for no reason.  My SCBA was not an issue other than I couldn't get my waist belt tight enough and so the weight of the pack rested on my shoulders all day.  I had no issues spending some time in the ambulance to take of care of business and I even had cold storage for the milk so I didn't have to stash it in a snowbank.  And physically it felt no different other than I know I am still not in the shape I was in a year ago.  That is just a matter of time and

 conditioning.  Once the basement is finally complete and the TV is up I can get back to my video workouts that I started a few years ago as a good cross training.  Then I don't have to worry about getting the little one packaged up to go workout.

 

The last few days I have also made good progress on my sweater and I am happy to report that the body is almost complete.  I just hope I have enough yarn to complete the arms and the neckband.  I have four skeins left and well....we'll see.
             

Love me a finished project

Back in December I finished my last baby project and it just needed to be sewn together.  I am not at all good at assembling knit stuffed animals so I enlisted the help of my husband.  He finished sewing on the arms and ears of the cutest bunny around and just in time for Easter!

And yes he did the paws!  This is the second bunny we have worked on together and we do make quite crafting pair.  I'd say Grayson is one lucky little boy.

We also bought frames to start putting up his newborn pics around the house.  We hit Michael's at the right time since they were have a 50% off sale.  Then we got up to the cash registers and the girl asked if we were teachers.  We sadly told her we were not teachers, but firefighters and we got the teachers discount.  All in all it was the right night to go shopping.

Town meeting day....

Ahh the joys of small town life continue.  Today is town meeting day.  Simply put those of us who are rational educated people get to spend time doing some community service while we try to navigate the village idiots (these people get elected too) through the warrant articles.

 My gripe is with the continued reduction of firefighter/EMS pay.  The town sets aside x amount of dollars to pay the call members for coming out and risking our lives at all hours of the day.  What happens when that dollar amount is met and exceeded?  Does the board of selectmen expect us to show up and provide our expertise free of charge?  Do the townspeople understand that we are trained professionally who must continually attend continuing education sessions and keep our skills fresh?  It's time to think about those who show up when you call 911!  We show up on your worst day in your worst moment.

A big thing we hear in this town from our elected officials is that we should be treated the same as the highway department or the ladies who work at town hall.  This means they do not want to pay the nominal fee for the firefighters to be members of the state firemens association.  The association provides death benefits should we die in the line of duty.  When was the last time the town clerk ran into a burning building or cut up a car at a horrific motor vehicle accident?  However, in a small town such as ours the call department is more than firefighters and EMTs.  We all have day jobs in which we are therapists, managers, mechanics, plumbers, truck drivers, and students.  We are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters.  Yet we put aside our lives and duties when our pagers go off and help those who need us.

So to say we should be on the same level as the highway department...well will they show up to work if they know they won't get paid?  Let's cut their payroll and see what happens next time there is snowstorm.  I'll be the one waving from my sled as I zip past your house!

Monday Musings to WIP Wednesday

A year ago when I started my blog, I always had one on Mondays with the above title.  I usually rambled on about happenings in our small town and what was going on with us.  Let today's rambling begin as we somehow already got to Wednesday.  Then the title must become WIP Wednesday.

He sleeps so peacefully

So our hockey season is over...UNH finished in a three way tie for second and because of stats ended up in fifth place.  So no home ice for us this year.  It's been a lot of fun taking Grayson to the games.  I grew up watching the Cats and look forward to having Grayson do the same.  For the most part he gets passed around and sleeps through the games. I know this will not be the case in the seasons to come.  He has been easy to contain!

Got an email from my co director of the Barnstead Firefighters Association 5k road race.  I can't believe it is already time to get started on this year's race.  It will be held the same weekend as last year and hoping for a bigger turnout.  We will again be participating in a local series that helps our local food pantries.

And on my needles this week is a lovely green wrap sweater.  I have actually made some good progress on it this week while the baby naps.  And it just may get done this time!

Also got out to enjoy the nice muddy weather NH had to offer this week...Scout has definitely enjoyed getting back to running and hiking.  All in all life is good.  And with a baby who is so close to sleeping through the night...well it will sure be nice to get a decent night's sleep someday!

Off to a slow, but good start

I managed 9.89 miles in my first week of really tracking.  I started using Map my run to log my miles after I realized I needed a good way of keeping myself in check.  Ok so more than half of those miles were walking miles, but it's all good.  I think my first run since the baby was a bit more than I should have done and was quite sore for a few days after.  Should've stuck with a solid 2, but did my loop instead.  I did run more than half of it though.

The weather has finally started to warm up, but that means mud and lots of it.  I have brand new sneakers that I should be running in, but one trip down the road would make my pearly white sneakers a dingy dark brown.  Ahh the joys of living in the woods.  The weather forecast for the week to come is warmer temps and rain.  And we have lots of snow that needs to melt....and I do mean a lot.  Guess what?  More mud!  Our driveway yesterday was the consistency of pudding and the high was only 51!

Mt. Washington is off in the distance

On tap this coming week is town elections on Tuesday.  That means next Saturday will be spent at town meeting.  The wonderful joys of small town living at its finest.  Hopefully Master Savage will behave himself for it.  Guess I should pick up the town report while Grayson and I are off to vote so I can be familiar with the warrant articles.  And really it's only the selectman race that is of interest to me....I know who will be getting my vote!

And lastly Grayson visited his first fire tower today when we decided on a late afternoon hike to the top of Blue Job.  It is hands down one of my favorite hikes in NH.  The initial summit isn't the highlight, but once you head over to the backside....ahh it's wonderful!  It was wonderful taking our new addition on yet another adventure.  And Scout was ecstatic to be back in the woods with her people.

How many miles per week?

And I never managed to get out on my sled.  That is because the damn thing won't start and so there is sits on the trailer mocking me.  Thankfully I have snowshoes!  The plan was to get Grayson out this weekend and enjoy this fine New Hampshire winter.  And it turned out to be a beautiful morning in the woods.

On a happier note I managed to finish my second full knitted project of 2013.  I used up a skein of sock yarn and made myself a fancy lace scarf that was surprisingly simple.  It was a two row repeat that was a great to do.  Just enough to remember to keep it fresh throughout the project.  I just don't recommend a glass of wine while trying to knit.  Two glasses and two mistakes later....I am done and hopefully only I can see the errors.

The third project off this year is a wrap sweater in a lovely green washable wool.  The key is the washable part...with a new baby who spits up in a projectile fashion often...well I need to be able to get it clean.  I actually started it a year ago, but had to frog it and start over again.

So I finally got clearance to start living again.  My doctor said I can do everything except shovel.  Ok I am good with that.  I can't wait to lace up my sneakers and get moving!

And John just informed that if I want to hit 1000 miles this year..I have to average 30 mies per week for the rest of 2013.  Guess I should get on that or lower my expectations.