Well, ACK! Christmas is a week from today, which means it’s now going to be one wild ride to the finish. This week started out normally, but as time went on adjustments were made. Thanks as always to Kim and Deborah for hosting the Weekly Rundown. Let’s see how this penultimate week went!
Sunday
13 mile trail run! It was a very unusual day, because the trail looked like this for the whole run:
I’m so used to bright, unrelenting sunlight, it was weird to be running through the fog. But I loved it.
Monday
I had four Caroline Girvan workouts left in the Iron Series, but the only one that was exclusively upper body was #30, the grand finale. It felt a little weird to do the last workout without completing the others first, but I didn’t want to do lower body right after a long run. This one was biceps, triceps, and core. Good workout!
Tuesday
This was the most lovely day we’ve had all year, weather-wise. It was 60 degrees! That’s almost down to the 50s!!! In a cruel twist of fate, all sorts of things prevented me from getting out for my run. Our cat threw up all over the Christmas tree skirt, and we got a notification from our bank about fraudulent charges on our card. I ended up having time for 3.5 miles before rushing back to get my daughter to school.
Wednesday
Gym day! I did a full body workout- squats, deadlifts (with dumbbells,) bench press, rows. The gym was more crowded than I would like- frankly, I’d prefer it if no one else was there while I’m putting 2.5 pound plates on the bar. But I got it done, and ended with abs on this torture device:
Thursday
I did a 4 mile run on very heavy legs.
At night my daughter had a concert, AND MY SON CAME HOME! Hooray! He’ll be home for a whole month.
Friday
I was up late on Thursday night, so I made this my day off and was able to sleep until 7:30.
Saturday
5 mile run! I had to get out early, but was treated to some nice Christmas lights.
In the afternoon we started wrapping presents and put them under the tree- but we made sure to leave a spot for our cat, since it’s her favorite place to sleep.
Sunday
Switching things up! I decided to do my long run on Wednesday this week, since Sunday is Christmas Day. So on tap for today- the gym. I’ll be there right when they open at 8 am and am hoping it’s a little less crowded. No one goes to the gym at 8 am on Sunday, right? I guess I’ll find out.
I have a little more shopping to do, a lot more wrapping, and more cookie baking. I know this week will fly by which makes me a little sad. In spite of all the busyness, I love it and don’t want it to end. Sigh! It’s the irony of Christmas. It’s stressful and crazy, and it all ends much too soon. All we can do is savor the insanity.
How was your week? Are you ready for Christmas? Are you celebrating Hanukkah tonight? If so, Happy Hanukkah!
44 Responses
Busy busy! I still have to wrap the gifts, which I plan on tackling today. I did some baking yesterday, too. This is going to be a strange holiday because my oldest son won’t be here–he’s been working in Oregon and they threw all kinds of $$$ at him and the other guys to stay and finish the work. I’m a sad for me but happy for him! My youngest will be home on Wednesday. I’m looking forward to that!
Oh yes- there will come a day where I won’t have both kids here for Christmas. Hopefully not in the near future, but it will happen. I’m enjoying it while I can! I’m glad your youngest will be with you!
Enjoy having both of your kids home! That will be the highlight of my week as well having my kids here in Aruba with us. You are just the person I would expect to have a Snoopy countdown clock-super cute. Glad you got in some great workouts despite a hectic week. Enjoy those cooler temps!
Thanks Deborah! I’ll be front-loading my workouts this week because the end of the week will be especially crazy. I’m laughing at your comment about the Snoopy clock- yes, i guess that is very “me.”
Yay for fog and cool days! Boo to bank stuff and cat puke.
I’m surprised that the gym is crowded this late in the year. The first few weeks of January, yes. Maybe people are making up for lost COVID time? Regardless, I see you with TWO gym workouts this week.
Ah, thanks for the reminder- the gym will probably be even worse in January. Arg! I wish I could figure out a less crowded time to go, but that might not be possible.
I’m not sure we’re lighting candles (electric, they don’t allow actual candles) but we will when I go home.
13 trail miles ! Wow! I never run that far unless I’m training for a race or racing.
I hope you make some fantastic memories this week!
Thank you Judy! Even if you don’t light candles, I hope your day and evening are nice.
Do you think you’ll repeat the Iron Series? I am only half way through, but want to do it all again. Not sure how long of a break to take? It doesn’t really get HARDER unless you up the weights, don’t you think? Just a really nice simple but effective workout. I enjoy that she doesn’t chit chat through it. Some people think its boring, but I don’t (at least not yet!)
Anyways, that foggy path looks lovely! And wow, you had some nice running temps. Happy holidays!
Jessie, that’s a great question- I haven’t decided. If I do repeat, it will probably be specific workouts. Or I might try one of her other series. I’ll let you know!
I agree with you on the lack of chit chat in Caroline’s workouts. I really got tired of listening to the Peloton instructors talking so much! 🙂
The fog on your trail is lovely and what a nice change from your usual run there with the sun beating down on you.
It is such a busy, yet wonderful, time of year! I have a little more baking to do, but otherwise I think I’m good. I need t plan our Christmas Eve dinner menu and shop accordingly, Merry Christmas!
I’m glad you’re enjoying the season! When I read your comment I was like “Christmas Eve dinner???” Oh yeah, I have some food shopping to do. But everything will get done… it always does.
I haven’t done any wrapping yet. I need to open all my Amazon packages to make sure everything came, and then I will head out for a bit of stocking stuffer shopping.
How was the gym?
The gym was empty when I got there and I was in heaven… but 15 minutes later it was filling up. Oh well… I got to the squat rack first and that’s my most important thing (there’s only one for some strange reason.)
I am done shopping and wrapping except for one gift! This is by far the best I’ve ever done! Haha! We’ll celebrate Hanukkah tonight and again with the inlaws on Wednesday night. I’ve got 4 LOOOONG days of work ahead of me then I’m off on 12/23, 24 and 25! Cannot wait! Your kitty sure is pretty beneath the tree! Sorry about the vomit though! I’ll bet that fog felt great to run in.
Wow, you’re doing great, and you have three days off- that will be nice. Yes, the cat adds a nice tough to the tree as long as she doesn’t throw up.
Hard to believe Christmas is a week away! My work is giving us a 4-day weekend this year, so I plan to take advantage and procrastinate a little baking until Friday, LOL.. Not a lot of gifts to buy (or wrap), so I’m pretty much on-task with those details. Our weather is absolutely ridiculous right now. I”M waiting for the feels-like temps to get above ZERO so I can do a short streak run today….
Ugh… I’m not envious of your weather.
I have NO extra days off- only Christmas Day- so I absolutely have to get things done ahead of time.
I’m so glad you’re getting nicer weather! We’ve still managed to avoid snow, even though it was in the forecast every day this weekend. I’m not complaining (we got rain instead).
I’m mostly ready…but also, not? I’m tired and there is a big final push with prepping food and all the arrangements and we have company coming after Christmas to stay for a few days. It’s more the logistics and sitting down and planning things out that I haven’t quite got my head wrapped around. But like you say: I know it will all get done!!! I have about 5ish gifts left to wrap and that is it! I don’t put presents out until a few days before Christmas, so everything is hanging out in our basement – in plastic bags/totes as much as possible after the pipe leak fiasco of last year!
I’m so sorry to hear about the fraudulent charges issue; that happened to us last year and it was a nightmare! I hope it gets resolved very quickly.
And YAY for your son arriving home AND being home for a whole month. How exciting!
P.S. I put your Christmas card in the mail yesterday, so it will almost certainly not arrive before Christmas…but maybe before New Years?!
Yes, I’m hoping your will arrive before New Years. Look at it this way… we’re keeping the holiday spirit going be sending cards late.
a two holiday family but don’t make a big deal out of either… and les each year esp since the kids are grown…. when there are grandkids it will change.
Yes, when you eventually have grandkids the holidays will probably get a lot more eventful!
So exciting your son is home! My house is full with both kids now and we’re all fighting over kitchen space, but it’s all good 🙂 How odd that you had fog on your run! It’s getting cold around here so I’m busting out the fleece lined tights again. I did get some baking done and I’m finally sitting down to address Christmas cards. It hasn’t been the best week around here so I’m really lacking motivation!
My cat has taken up residency under the Christmas tree too. Well, when she’s not busy trying to figure out how to climb up it without being caught!
I hope you have a great time with your family this week!!
I’m really surprised my cat hasn’t tried to climb the tree. She loves to climb things… just not the Christmas tree, luckily.
i hope this coming week is a better one for you!
Okay, my main takeaway from this is that my cat is not the only cat who has decided that throwing up on the tree skirt is the best place to throw up. You are not alone in having to climb under the tree to clean it up!
Ha, good to know! Why do they pick the worst places?
You’ve reminded me to look at the calendar and plan out my runs for the week. Christmas Day is not the day for the long run. I love that foggy pic. Isn’t it amazing how the weather can change the look of a place.
Yes, I know some people run on Christmas Day, but it definitely won’t work for me. Even Christmas Eve is going to be difficult, but I don’t wnt to take two days off in a row so I’ll make it happen somehow.
Being in the gym early on Sunday morning is a great plan! I did your torture device ab exercise a few weeks ago – it mainly hurt my shoulders since I needed to keep myself up there. But I’ve done a similar exercise lying on a mat, that was much better and was an absolute killer for my abs.
Your foggy trail run looks like what we had yesterday. It’s quite pleasant to walk or run in those conditions. I hope your cat is ok and that you sorted out the bank trouble, such things are so stressful.
You reminded me it’s time to wrap Christmas presents… it’s easy here because I only have a few for my husband!
I wish you a happy Christmas and another week with good runs.
Thank you Susanne! Yes, when I saw your foggy pictures it reminded me of my trail run. Florida does not usually look like Ireland!
I am ready for Christmas, other than a few gifts to wrap. I want to make a batch of cookies as well, and I might do that tomorrow. It is very very very cold here right now, and I’m trying to give myself a pep talk to take Rex out for his walk. Merry Christmas!
Oh good luck- I hope it’s not too cold for Rex!
I hope you have many more 60F degree or cooler days ahead of you. I wish we could send some of our cool weather your way. It’s going to be truly awful out this week – like high of 0-6 degrees! My poor sister is coming home from Tucson, AZ. She is going to receive a shock to the system! I know she was hoping to play outside in the snow with her daughter but that is NOT happening in this kind of weather! It looks like things will improve next week, though.
How exciting that your Paul is home! And for a whole month! Hurray! I hope the time really slows down for you all but I know that doesn’t tend to happen. I am feeling pretty ready for Christmas but we had to do so little in terms of shopping. I wrapped the boys’ Santa gifts on Saturday morning while Phil went grocery shopping so we are pretty much ready for the holiday. I’m excited but also dreading a long weekend with the boys when it is so dang cold outside!!! But they will have new toys to entertain them so that will help!
Oh, BRR! That is cold. Yes, your sister will not be prepared for it coming from Tucson. Will your sister be there with you for Christmas? Maybe all the kids can entertain each other.
I love that Snoopy Christmas countdown timer – so cute!
Enjoy having your children home for the holidays and I hope you have a very merry Christmas!
Thank you Kim! I’ve had that countdown timer for years and years. At midnight on the 24th is flashes “Merry Christmas!”
I know what you mean – I so love this time of year as well but it can feel very frenetic and then bam it’s over! Yay for having your son home – enjoy your family time!
Thank you Michelle- I’m trying to savor it because as we know too well- it will be over soon.
Yay! Your son is home! That is so great!
The fog photo is so cool – what a wild experience! I think it would make me feel jumpy but I am glad it was fun.
It was a little eerie, to be honest. But I enjoyed it.
Your cat is so cute!
We did celebrate Hanukkah, but we also celebrate Solstice and Christmas. I have wrapping and baking to do, and maybe a little more shopping. Eek.
I had a massive present wrapping session today, and now all I really have left is baking. I have two days to make the gingerbread cookies and sugar cookies for our Christmas Eve decorating party!
Must have been so nice to run through fog for a change 🙂 We had some fogs here too and I kinda loved it.