It's so bloody hot here! This is very unusual for Victoria, as we islanders are not prepared for this heat. It's been an average of 33 degrees since the weekend and I don't have air conditioning. Work does, thankfully, but Uvic doesn't. I thought I would melt in my final, I think I rushed through the last essay just so that I could leave the room and breathe again.

I finished my first two summer courses, I really enjoyed them. I started my new courses today and, luckily, most of my friends from my first two classes are also in this one. The prof only kept us an hour today because he thinks its ridiculous that we dont have a break between courses. I completely agree.

No, I haven't ran in over 2 weeks. Between the heat, my insomnia and school, I haven't had the time or energy to do so. I will have to kick back into gear next week as it will signify the start of my two month countdown to my half marathon. I think Shannon has backed out, but it's not official yet. Janice is still gun-ho. We'll see what happens.

I'd like to send a shout out to my dear friend (and faithful blogger) Wayne on his recent marriage. Congrats!

Crazy weekend

I am so busy and I love it! I am crazy with homework and I’m slightly behind at work. I came in on Saturday for a few hours of catch-up. I spent the entire weekend at home, other than those few hours at work. I baked cookies and muffins, but other than that, it was homework, homework, homework. Oh yeah, and running!

For the first time in almost two weeks I went for a run Sat night just before nine. It was the perfect temp and I decided to shoot for 6km. I ended up running 7km and I maintained a really excellent pace. I wasn’t winded or sore and the next day I felt fine. I guess taking two weeks off didn’t really affect me. I have learned that when I’m not in the mood to run-then I don’t. It’s just not worth it because in the end it will be a shitty run. Your heart has to be in it. I ran again Sunday night around 8pm (after finishing an essay that took me most of the day to create). I ran 9km and my pace was 5:47, which is fairly decent for me. I’m trying to stay under 6mins and I’m slowly but surely getting there. I actually run a 4:47 pace for all but two km’s, but I stopped at one point, so that kills the overall time.

The most interesting part of my weekend was the at-home-surgery I performed on my poor cat. Riley got into a fight Saturday morning and by Sunday it was obvious he had an abscess because his forehead was beginning to swell. I felt bad but I just couldn’t afford a huge vet bill. So I opened the abscess myself (gross, but manageable) and disinfected it the best I could. Riley was extremely patient, he didn’t move a muscle but he did cry a few times, my poor babe. Anyway, I kept re-opening it throughout the day and he looked much better by Sunday evening. However, my maternal instincts were in panic mode and when I came home sick on Monday afternoon, he was acting lethargic. I panicked and took him to the vet, who said he was lucky the abscess had opened on its own (like hell I would admit I did it-I’m sure there is a ‘kitty abuse ministry’ out there somewhere). Anyway, she gave him antibiotics and we escaped surgery. I really should have held on, he would have been fine otherwise but it’s a small price to pay for relief. I slept well last night. I’m not sure Riley did, they partly shaved his head to clean the wound and he looks so funny, I can’t help but laugh at him. Can they not at least to attempt to shave him evenly? One part comes down over the eye, looks so funny. Needless to say he won’t leave the house for a few days.

*There is a $1,000 (return) seat sale to Sydney right now so I've included a picture of the Sydney Opera House and Bridge (as viewed from the Royal Botanical Gardens).

Summer Holidays

I havent written in awhile because I spent a week in the Okanagan at my parent's house. I managed to run just over 20km before going, I knew I probably wouldnt get a lot of running in while I was in Vernon...so true. I managed to run just over 9k on the Monday but I never ran again the entire week. I did run from the house down the huge hill to Kin Beach at the end of Tronson Road. That's a tough run because I was in the heat of the sun for 90% of the run (it was about 24 degrees when I ran, even though it was only 8:30am). I had to run through construction but I cant complain too much because I had a view of Lake Okanagan the entire time. It was a good run.

I went swimming even though the water was quite cold. It was so hot that it was refreshing to get in...and then get out a short while later. Mom and I did get out in the kayaks and it was fun as I've never been kayaking in this lake before (just the ocean). We saw a ton of fish and it was (of course), beautiful out. I found that kayaking kills my back, I just couldnt do it again the next day, I was in too much pain.

We went boating of course, but no wakeboarding because I dont have a wetsuit and the water is still fairly cold. It's usually 21, 22 degrees when I wakeboard and at this time of year, its only 17-18 degrees, much too cold to sit in the water that long. It wouldnt be much fun. Hopefully I get another chance to wakeboard later this summer.

So I'm back to school tomorrow...I feel too old to be going back to school. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I know it will be just fine, I just have to get back into the groove.