Exceedingly stressed organising the charity swing night in February - really didn't leave myself enough time considering I'm going to England swing dancing the weekend before and that leaves.....um......one weekend in which to prepare for the whole thing. Luckily the spot prizes are pouring in so the raffle will be good....unluckily the dance performers have feck all time to rehearse so the 'cabaret' side' of it is likely to be shite. D'oh.
I'm calling it the 'Red Carpet Cabaret' cos it's the week before the Oscars. We're using Fimbase as a venue, the dance performances will all be movie-themed, there'll be an Oscar poll competition, movie clips will play in the background and there'll be popcorn!
Film-tastic.
Ps Ciara's amazing.( she made me write that) Shut up Ciara!
She's telling me about her dead list for 2008- the morbid competition (run by Canadians) where you predict what famous people are going to die in the coming year. On her list: Aretha Franklin, Gorbachev, John Goodman, Maggie Thatcher, Ian Paisley, Kurt Douglas, Little Kim, Naomi Campbell, Keith Richards, OJ Simpson, Janet and Michael Jackson-you get more points for young people so you've got to consider who's old, who's fat and who lives on the edge.............................I didn't say it was a nice competition.
We're going out to a gig at Whelan's tonight and after my stress pants week I need a few beers - since I don't want a hangover we're gonna start early and finish early - I've just finished my first beer in weeks - God it was good. So much for my fitness kick..........but in fairness- there are crazy blizzards outside, work has been mental, I'm organising an event that I'm worried will be awful - if alcohol wasn't made for situations like this then when is it?
Anyway it's time for beer number 2 :)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Bow Before Me
I am a fitness God.
Not a day has gone by in the past 3 when I have not performed feats of endurance beyond that of mere mortals (ie stuff I couldn't have done a month ago).
On Friday I ran the prom in Salthill - I'm not talking a gentle jog from blackrock to Seapoint. I ran from my house in Knocknacarra to the end of the prom at the GCI an back...by my reckoning at least 6km. But this would not ordinarily have been a wonderous achievement - this day I did it in gale force winds.
When the wind was behind me I ran double time when it was against me I more or less ran on the spot while sand stung my eyes and seaweed got tangled in my hair. I am a fitness God.
On Saturday I spent 4 hours learning the Tranky Do, a very physically and mentally challenging jazz dance - despite having done parts of it before and knowing most of the individual steps involved I found it hard. I'm just woeful at remembering what step comes next so while everyone else is Susie Q'ing or doing Boogie Drops I'm usually Falling off the Log.
After a coma-like nap I was out dancing again at a swing night in the Office bar in Salthill. I am a fitness God.
Today, despite aching limbs and weary bones I forced myself out for another run - not quite so long as Friday and in much nicer conditions (positively Spring-like). But a run nonetheless not two days after a previous run - I am a fitness God.
And it feels good.
Du Jour:
Song - The Hill by Marketa Irglova 'Once' Soundtrack.
Not a day has gone by in the past 3 when I have not performed feats of endurance beyond that of mere mortals (ie stuff I couldn't have done a month ago).
On Friday I ran the prom in Salthill - I'm not talking a gentle jog from blackrock to Seapoint. I ran from my house in Knocknacarra to the end of the prom at the GCI an back...by my reckoning at least 6km. But this would not ordinarily have been a wonderous achievement - this day I did it in gale force winds.
When the wind was behind me I ran double time when it was against me I more or less ran on the spot while sand stung my eyes and seaweed got tangled in my hair. I am a fitness God.
On Saturday I spent 4 hours learning the Tranky Do, a very physically and mentally challenging jazz dance - despite having done parts of it before and knowing most of the individual steps involved I found it hard. I'm just woeful at remembering what step comes next so while everyone else is Susie Q'ing or doing Boogie Drops I'm usually Falling off the Log.
After a coma-like nap I was out dancing again at a swing night in the Office bar in Salthill. I am a fitness God.
Today, despite aching limbs and weary bones I forced myself out for another run - not quite so long as Friday and in much nicer conditions (positively Spring-like). But a run nonetheless not two days after a previous run - I am a fitness God.
And it feels good.
Du Jour:
Song - The Hill by Marketa Irglova 'Once' Soundtrack.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Imagine the divorce proceedings...
There are 7 teenagers in Ireland on their second marriage.
God bless the Census for telling us these amazing facts.
Marriage number 2 and not even 20.
Man I've got to get my act together...
God bless the Census for telling us these amazing facts.
Marriage number 2 and not even 20.
Man I've got to get my act together...
Sunday, January 20, 2008
A Table Too Far.
Well it's a week on and training has stalled somewhat. After my epic run last Sunday my legs weren't functional till oh about Wednesday. The following few days involved a night of swing dancing, a hatha yoga class but no running.
I went for a short run through a rain-sodden Phoenix park on Friday after work (when you have ducks keeping you company on a jog you know you're in Ireland) but have failed to don my running gear since then. Tut tut.
I did make the ostentatious purchase of a bicycle yesterday which, I think, indicates my commitment to this 'getting fit' lark. I got a helmet, lights and a florescent strappy thing to wear so I'm visible at night. I mean business.
Of course the forecast is for non-stop torrential rain tomorrow so I may not abandon my beloved Fiat Brava just yet. The new Eco-friendly, healthy Ms Bones is on her way though.
Really.
I mean it!
You readers know me too well.....
Anyway the reason I didn't get out for another long run this weekend (aside from the miserable weather) was that I my hosting duties for my long awaited Blues night occupied so much of my time. Extensive cleaning of Phoenix Manor was needed, as was shopping for a mountain of food and booze. Hours were spent making playlists of Blues music (of which I had almost none before Peter burned some MP3s for me - thanks Pete).....and a good 40 minutes was spent trying to wrestle a table out of the kitchen to make room for dancing.
Sadly despite Ciara and my mammoth efforts the table was not willing to be evicted. We managed to get it into the hallway but further than that it would not budge. Towards the living room it got jammed on the doorway and towards the front door the hall narrows. I was fully prepared to chop 4 inches of each of the table's legs (I really don't like that table) but Ciara counseled forbearance. Instead we moved the table from the living room (I table I quite like) into the back garden (there's no justice for decent hard-working tables in this world) where it got rained on the entire night. When I went to take it in this morning it was covered in white patches where water had sat on it. I was full sure I had ruined the table but now that it's dried the patches have disappeared. Anyone know what phenomenon this is?
The party itself was great -we stuck to dim lighting using only a few strings of fairy lights, candles and a red lamp shade for effect. With Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters, BB King, Ella Fitzgerald (only the mournful songs) and Tom Waits on the stereo it made for a very mellow, speakeasy style atmosphere. Too mellow really--the dancing didn't start till 1am cos everyone was happy chatting away. In attendance were a random mix of dancing and non-dancing buddies who all got on remarkably well (some of them a little too well- you know who you are). I had never really seen the effects of vast gin-consumption before....
And what did we learn?
No 1. no house is too small for dancing,
No 2. blues dancing is for doing not for watching...and
No 3. gin is not our friend, no matter how good an idea it seems at the time.
Du jour:
Song: Silver Lining by Rilo Kiley
Book: Wuthering Heights (Confession: I've never read it before.....That's bad. I mean I have a degree in English and was teaching literature to teenagers without having read it. If the teaching council ever find out......)
I went for a short run through a rain-sodden Phoenix park on Friday after work (when you have ducks keeping you company on a jog you know you're in Ireland) but have failed to don my running gear since then. Tut tut.
I did make the ostentatious purchase of a bicycle yesterday which, I think, indicates my commitment to this 'getting fit' lark. I got a helmet, lights and a florescent strappy thing to wear so I'm visible at night. I mean business.
Of course the forecast is for non-stop torrential rain tomorrow so I may not abandon my beloved Fiat Brava just yet. The new Eco-friendly, healthy Ms Bones is on her way though.
Really.
I mean it!
You readers know me too well.....
Anyway the reason I didn't get out for another long run this weekend (aside from the miserable weather) was that I my hosting duties for my long awaited Blues night occupied so much of my time. Extensive cleaning of Phoenix Manor was needed, as was shopping for a mountain of food and booze. Hours were spent making playlists of Blues music (of which I had almost none before Peter burned some MP3s for me - thanks Pete).....and a good 40 minutes was spent trying to wrestle a table out of the kitchen to make room for dancing.
Sadly despite Ciara and my mammoth efforts the table was not willing to be evicted. We managed to get it into the hallway but further than that it would not budge. Towards the living room it got jammed on the doorway and towards the front door the hall narrows. I was fully prepared to chop 4 inches of each of the table's legs (I really don't like that table) but Ciara counseled forbearance. Instead we moved the table from the living room (I table I quite like) into the back garden (there's no justice for decent hard-working tables in this world) where it got rained on the entire night. When I went to take it in this morning it was covered in white patches where water had sat on it. I was full sure I had ruined the table but now that it's dried the patches have disappeared. Anyone know what phenomenon this is?
The party itself was great -we stuck to dim lighting using only a few strings of fairy lights, candles and a red lamp shade for effect. With Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters, BB King, Ella Fitzgerald (only the mournful songs) and Tom Waits on the stereo it made for a very mellow, speakeasy style atmosphere. Too mellow really--the dancing didn't start till 1am cos everyone was happy chatting away. In attendance were a random mix of dancing and non-dancing buddies who all got on remarkably well (some of them a little too well- you know who you are). I had never really seen the effects of vast gin-consumption before....
And what did we learn?
No 1. no house is too small for dancing,
No 2. blues dancing is for doing not for watching...and
No 3. gin is not our friend, no matter how good an idea it seems at the time.
Du jour:
Song: Silver Lining by Rilo Kiley
Book: Wuthering Heights (Confession: I've never read it before.....That's bad. I mean I have a degree in English and was teaching literature to teenagers without having read it. If the teaching council ever find out......)
Monday, January 14, 2008
A Half Marathon? Does that mean I can do it half-arsed?
I’m normally good at keeping my head down for January as diets and gym memberships start flying about ready to hit vulnerable people in their post-Christmas sluggishness. I haven’t escaped this time, however. It appears that I’ve signed up to do a half-marathon in April.
No, not a 5 or 10 km fun run on city streets; a half-marathon – that’s 13 miles or 20 kilometres and it’s part of the Connemarathon which involves hills ie running up hills. Feel free to commit me to an online mental institution.
It’s all the fault of my do-gooder, go-getter co-workers here at Habitat for Humanity. They’re all tall with perfect teeth and enjoy mountain climbing while wearing ethically manufactured boots and when they reach the top eat organic lentil soup. First one signed up for the Connemarathon, then another and suddenly I was the only one in the office who hadn’t signed up. Well I couldn’t be Johnny-no-mates for 3 months left out of all the planning and training talk – and I couldn’t miss a weekend of craic in Connemara. So what if I’ve to run 20 kilometres – I’ll manage.
At least that’s what went through my head when I filled in the online application – that’s the problem with the internet – everything’s so easy – spend 50 quid on a book – just one easy click....spend 120 quid on a flight to Rome – simple....suddenly your buying antique furniture on ebay and gambling thousands away playing poker with random Russians. Money doesn’t feel real when it’s just a number on a screen and marathons don’t seem difficult when they’re just words on a screen.
One good thing about it is that it will help me do my fundraising for the trips to New Orleans and Ghana building houses that I intend to do this summer. Doing two Habitat trips in one year is another good reason to reclassify me as mentally unhinged, considering the amount of planning, fundraising and preparation that goes into a volunteer trip abroad. I really want to do both the Jimmy Carter blitz build in May and go on an Open Team Build to Ghana in August though. Sure I’ll give it a go anyway.
I started my training yesterday with a run in Phoenix Park. Whenever I’ve gone jogging in the past I’ve been easy on myself- 10 minutes of running earns 5 minutes walking. So whenever I’ve gotten out of breath or the lungs start to hurt I’ve eased up and taken a break. I can’t afford to do that if I’m going to complete this half-marathon in less than 8 hours however, so yesterday I pushed it.
I went all the way from my home in Stoneybatter to the Chapelizod gate (via Corkscrew Road as opposed to straight road) and back only stopping after particularly tough hills or when my knees felt weird (I’m worried about damaging my knees – what if I couldn’t swing dance?! It’s a thought to unbearable to consider). By my reckoning (measuring on google maps) that was 8-9 kilometres so it was a good start. Admittedly I can barely walk today and it’s evident that I’ve awoken quite a few muscles that have been enjoying dormancy for about a decade but surely that’s the worst over with now? Surely it gets easier from here on in?
I’ll keep you posted throughout my training and should you want to donate to the worthy cause of Habitat for Humanity and support my lunatic bid to become a long-distance runner click here:
http://www.mycharity.ie/event/elaine_dobbyns_event
Remember money is smaller on the internet so give big!
No, not a 5 or 10 km fun run on city streets; a half-marathon – that’s 13 miles or 20 kilometres and it’s part of the Connemarathon which involves hills ie running up hills. Feel free to commit me to an online mental institution.
It’s all the fault of my do-gooder, go-getter co-workers here at Habitat for Humanity. They’re all tall with perfect teeth and enjoy mountain climbing while wearing ethically manufactured boots and when they reach the top eat organic lentil soup. First one signed up for the Connemarathon, then another and suddenly I was the only one in the office who hadn’t signed up. Well I couldn’t be Johnny-no-mates for 3 months left out of all the planning and training talk – and I couldn’t miss a weekend of craic in Connemara. So what if I’ve to run 20 kilometres – I’ll manage.
At least that’s what went through my head when I filled in the online application – that’s the problem with the internet – everything’s so easy – spend 50 quid on a book – just one easy click....spend 120 quid on a flight to Rome – simple....suddenly your buying antique furniture on ebay and gambling thousands away playing poker with random Russians. Money doesn’t feel real when it’s just a number on a screen and marathons don’t seem difficult when they’re just words on a screen.
One good thing about it is that it will help me do my fundraising for the trips to New Orleans and Ghana building houses that I intend to do this summer. Doing two Habitat trips in one year is another good reason to reclassify me as mentally unhinged, considering the amount of planning, fundraising and preparation that goes into a volunteer trip abroad. I really want to do both the Jimmy Carter blitz build in May and go on an Open Team Build to Ghana in August though. Sure I’ll give it a go anyway.
I started my training yesterday with a run in Phoenix Park. Whenever I’ve gone jogging in the past I’ve been easy on myself- 10 minutes of running earns 5 minutes walking. So whenever I’ve gotten out of breath or the lungs start to hurt I’ve eased up and taken a break. I can’t afford to do that if I’m going to complete this half-marathon in less than 8 hours however, so yesterday I pushed it.
I went all the way from my home in Stoneybatter to the Chapelizod gate (via Corkscrew Road as opposed to straight road) and back only stopping after particularly tough hills or when my knees felt weird (I’m worried about damaging my knees – what if I couldn’t swing dance?! It’s a thought to unbearable to consider). By my reckoning (measuring on google maps) that was 8-9 kilometres so it was a good start. Admittedly I can barely walk today and it’s evident that I’ve awoken quite a few muscles that have been enjoying dormancy for about a decade but surely that’s the worst over with now? Surely it gets easier from here on in?
I’ll keep you posted throughout my training and should you want to donate to the worthy cause of Habitat for Humanity and support my lunatic bid to become a long-distance runner click here:
http://www.mycharity.ie/event/elaine_dobbyns_event
Remember money is smaller on the internet so give big!
Friday, January 4, 2008
2008 - Not a Minute Too Late
The new year is off to a fairly good start for me. Well I'm not terminally depressed even though I've no money, it's dark, wet and freezing out and I've no holidays in the next few months....I'm not considering painless methods of self-annihilation and I think that's achievement enough.
It's also Friday afternoon and I've survived the first week back at work (well 3 days); a week that I've basically never had to work before because I always had teaching or college holidays. I don't see what all the fuss was about - there's been hardly any traffic, we've eased ourselves into work gently and next Monday will not be as traumatic for me as it will for every teacher and school kid in the country...mwhahahaha.
My resolutions to eat more healthily and get more exercise (I'm terribly imaginative) haven't amounted to much as yet. The workplace is my major downfall; we make tea every hour or so and there are always chocolate biscuits on offer. My willpower does not extend to the refusal of chocolate in any form. I'll just have to start skipping dinner....
The weather has precluded exercise in any form apart from running from the car to the front door. Really not sufficient if I'm going to do a mini-marathon this year. Having a car really makes you lazy. Bicycle purchase necessary soon.
I did manage to drag some non-dancers to a Salsa class last night and it was a lot of fun. Some of the guys who swing dance were there - in fact there were loads of guys there....as in more than girls in some of the classes. Wow.
Michelle and Martina were naturals at it, Declan, being both male and Irish, struggled but he did have a wicked 'salsa face' that was most entertaining. It's not unlike his 'I've a bottle of buckfast and am happy face'.
Personally I found it tricky to get the hang of the different rhythms but because I'm able to follow I could blag my way through even with some good dancers. Will hit an Improvers class next time- I learn faster with guys who know what they're doing (wink wink). Hopefully the other three will stick with it too. Dance is fun, cool and basically more people should do it.
A night of lying prone on the couch under a duvet is on the cards for me tonight *bliss* It's less a matter of laziness than sheer poverty - it's still the only thing I want to do tonight. Apparently French peasants in the nineteenth century hibernated for 6 months of the year; as in literally sleeping round the clock, only rising to eat some stale bread and stoke the fire. Sounds fantastic.
Where has humanity gone wrong that we now have to work all year round? I'll be getting on to my union about this....
It's also Friday afternoon and I've survived the first week back at work (well 3 days); a week that I've basically never had to work before because I always had teaching or college holidays. I don't see what all the fuss was about - there's been hardly any traffic, we've eased ourselves into work gently and next Monday will not be as traumatic for me as it will for every teacher and school kid in the country...mwhahahaha.
My resolutions to eat more healthily and get more exercise (I'm terribly imaginative) haven't amounted to much as yet. The workplace is my major downfall; we make tea every hour or so and there are always chocolate biscuits on offer. My willpower does not extend to the refusal of chocolate in any form. I'll just have to start skipping dinner....
The weather has precluded exercise in any form apart from running from the car to the front door. Really not sufficient if I'm going to do a mini-marathon this year. Having a car really makes you lazy. Bicycle purchase necessary soon.
I did manage to drag some non-dancers to a Salsa class last night and it was a lot of fun. Some of the guys who swing dance were there - in fact there were loads of guys there....as in more than girls in some of the classes. Wow.
Michelle and Martina were naturals at it, Declan, being both male and Irish, struggled but he did have a wicked 'salsa face' that was most entertaining. It's not unlike his 'I've a bottle of buckfast and am happy face'.
Personally I found it tricky to get the hang of the different rhythms but because I'm able to follow I could blag my way through even with some good dancers. Will hit an Improvers class next time- I learn faster with guys who know what they're doing (wink wink). Hopefully the other three will stick with it too. Dance is fun, cool and basically more people should do it.
A night of lying prone on the couch under a duvet is on the cards for me tonight *bliss* It's less a matter of laziness than sheer poverty - it's still the only thing I want to do tonight. Apparently French peasants in the nineteenth century hibernated for 6 months of the year; as in literally sleeping round the clock, only rising to eat some stale bread and stoke the fire. Sounds fantastic.
Where has humanity gone wrong that we now have to work all year round? I'll be getting on to my union about this....
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