Sheep River walk ...

Crow surveys the blue, blue sky

 Last weekend, I needed to visit Okotoks - 45 minutes south of Calgary - as part of the tutoring arrangement I have with one of the families I'm working for at the moment.  Since it was such a lovely day, I left home a little early and took the opportunity to take the pup for a wander around the Sheep River which runs through Okotoks.  Spring was definitely in the air with a stunning blue sky, birds chirping and the sun shining.  The only indication that the day was still a wintery cold (for an Australian) were the remnants of snow on the side of the river and the snow capped Rockies in the background.  The pup had a brilliant time scouting new territory while I enjoyed the fresh air before several hours inside.

Pathway along the Sheep River

Looking under the bridge towards the still-icy part of the river

Hiding in the long grass

Spring skies but still little pockets of snow remain

Checking out the sit up bench in the 'workout park'

Looking back towards the old granery

Gadget girl ...

I am afraid that I take after my father ... I am a gadget girl.  My latest gadget is a Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS running watch.  Prior to last week, I didn't even know that you could get a GPS running watch.  I had taken a trip to the Running Room to buy a new heart rater monitor since my last one died.  The question of whether or not I wanted GPS as well stumped me so I went home and did some research.  I thought it was so amazing that you could track each run using GPS so I headed back to the store and bought myself the most basic Garmin model. 

Not the daintiest of watches

After charging it, I used it yesterday for the first 'long run' of my half marathon training ... a 10km loop around the Bow River.  The watch was super simple to use - I just waited for the satellites to be located, pressed start and off I went.  As I ran, I could see how long I'd been running for, how far I'd run and my current pace.  Pretty neat.  The run itself was pretty easy and I managed to run the 10km 10 minutes faster than I'd planned to.  When I returned home, I plugged the watch into my computer and hey presto!  All my running data appeared ... a map of where I'd run, several charts - timing, elevation, heart rate, my speed for each kilometre, total elevation gain/loss (I also learned that Calgary is just over 1000 metres above sea level).  How awesome is that?!  For some reason (probably my lack of technological skills) I can't work out how to insert the charts here but if you're interested in what the page looks like, you can check it out here.  I just know that this latest gadget is going to keep me motivated for my training ... there is no cheating when all the data is laid out in front of you. 

The Red Deer News, 1910 ...

I'm currently sitting at my computer (obviously) putting off the task of writing my final assignment for the much begrudged 'Women of the West' unit I'm completing as part of the teaching certification process in Alberta.  I find myself sitting here with such a negative attitude and a level of stubbornness that I didn't even know I had ... I feel like a child who is digging their heels in when they don't want to do something.  I simply do not see the point in this assignment - a 6500 word research project analysing how women were depicted in the Red Deer News (Red Deer is a town about 1.5 hours north of Calgary) in 1910.  Why the Red Deer News?  Well, there were a number of choices, it just happened to be first on the list ... I could have chosen the Prairie Grain Growers Guide.  One of the most frustrating, and incomprehensible, things about this assignment is the relationship between the word limit and the weighting of its mark ... 6500 words for a 40% assignment, where as the last assignment was 1500 words worth 30%.  It seems a little out of whack to me.

As a motivation for finishing the assignment (and the course), I have planned (another procrastination tool) a day of celebration which will include browsing the local bookstore and buying a new book (I already have one in mind - Geraldine Brooks' Caleb's Crossing); reading the said book in front of the fire at my favourite local cafe, The Higher Ground; having a massage; and then returning home to finish the book with a glass of wine and a puppy on my lap.  Now all I need to do is get cracking on the assignment.  But for the minute, there a couple of other 'urgent' items on my list like sewing up damaged dog toys, searching for a second hand bike to purchase, planning my half marathon training and picking up the dog poo in the back yard.  Me?  Procrastinate?  Not at all!

Snowy runs ...

Abbey thinks a post-run stretch is a great opportunity for some fun play time

 

I just got back from a run.  It was a chilly -4 degrees.  Probably colder if you consider the brisk wind coming off the Bow river.  I was pretty proud of my efforts in luring myself away from the open fire, pot of tea and good book, but as always, I felt amazing when I'd finished my run.  Running here at this time of the year (and more so in the middle of winter, I'm sure) is challenging on a number of fronts.  Firstly, the footpaths are often covered in snow, ice or slush which makes for a mentally challenging run as you must think carefully about where you place your foot in order not to slip.  Next, there is the challenge of what to wear.  I still haven't mastered this, but I'm getting there.  On my first run back in Canada, I stupidly headed out in tights and a single long sleeved t-shirt.  That was it.  Now, I wear the same tights and long sleeved tee, but have added a singlet to keep my core warm, thermal gloves and a woollen headband designed for skiing.  I always run in sunglasses because the glare off the snow and ice on the river makes my eyes hurt, as does the wind whipping off the river.  Timing your run when it is so cold outside is also something important to consider.  Run too early or too late and the footpaths are super icy, as well as being just a tad too chilly.  Warming up and stretching are asking too much of me when it's so cold and my motivation is waning.  I find it best just to get out there, warm up on the run and have a good stretch when I return home.  Despite all these challenges and my occasional reluctance to hit the pavement, the most important thing is that I'm just out there running because a half marathon is not going to be a fun experience if I've spent the preceding months in front of the open fire with a mug of tea in my hand.  Which is precisely what I'm off to do now.

Driving in the snow ...

Highway 22 to Millarville yesterday morning at 7am (yes Mum, I know I shouldn't have been taking a photo while driving)

When I returned to Calgary, I had planned to undertake a short winter driving course to get used to driving in the snow and ice.  However, I was thrown in the deep end yesterday when I awoke to snow and the prospect of an hour long drive to Millarville early in the morning.  I survived the drive perfectly well but did look like a grandma as I gripped the steering wheel and leaned forward with concentration whilst I drove well below the speed limit.  Thankfully the snow has gone now but I will still be looking out for a good winter driving course to complete at some point.

The new ipad ...

A few weeks ago, I decided to buy an ipad as I thought it would be a good teaching tool to experiment with (well, that's what I told myself ... I've secretly been hanging out for one for ages).  But, I thought I'd have to wait for ages until the Apple-mania died down.  So, you can imagine my surprise when I turned up to the Apple store on Friday (wanting to buy an HDMI cable to connect my Macbook Pro to the TV), expecting there to be a huge line up for the new ipad on 'launch day', to find a line of just 1-2 people.  I quickly joined the line and within about 5-10 minutes, I was standing at the back of the store with the Apple staff cheering as they handed over a shiny new 64GB wi-fi + 4G black ipad.  The shopping experience was unreal.  Apple certainly know how to market things and create such a positive, enthusiastic encounter in the store.  After making my purchase, a staff member helped me set everything up and then sent me home to 'play'.  And that is exactly what I have done ... procrastination tool number 104 - buy an ipad.  I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the number of apps available and no idea which ones to choose.  So far, my favourite downloads have been 'The Age' and 'The Australian' newspapers and I love that you can save articles to read later.  Plus, the quality of the image on the screen is like nothing I've ever seen before.  However, I need your help, my friends.  I need some suggestions for which apps to download.  I'm interested in anything reading or health and fitness related and, since I bought it to use at work, educational apps.  Please, leave a comment or send me an email with some suggestions!

Abbey checks on the new ipad

A working woman again ...

 As some of you were aware, I was slightly stressed at the prospect of being in Calgary with no work lined up.  But, as my mother reassured me, things worked out.  Beginning this week, I'm currently working 15 hours a week providing tutoring for two families.  One, about 4 hours per week, is a relative of the family I've recently left and I already knew the two boys, aged 8 and 9, so that has made it a very easy transition for both parties.  That tutoring gig simply involves basic maths and writing catch-up and homework help.  The second, larger job of about 11 hours per week is of a more unique situation.  Three days a week, I will spend the morning at the Millarville Community School working one-on-one with a 10 year old boy who has some difficulties with his literacy development.  I had my first day there today and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The student is great - very eager, switched on and a lot of fun to work with.  It was so lovely to walk into the school, already knowing the staff and a lot of the students; I was welcomed so warmly, it was a wonderful feeling.  I know that I'm going to enjoy the balance of being back in a school setting as well as having the time at home to work on my thesis and spend time with our dear little puppy.