Maybe too productive

Thursday and Friday I cleaned my bedroom. By the time I was finished, the furniture was polished, the books were reorganized, and old jewellery was diagnosed, packaged, and triaged by repair category.

Saturday we went for a pre-dawn hike in the Don Valley; then I started on my closet and removed clothes I won’t be wearing in the summer. I still need a few storage boxes for the winter clothes, extra blankets, and just a little too small, I still like it but it looks like camouflage, it’s OK but the skirt’s too long, and mending categories.

This morning at 4:15 we cancelled our walk because it’s raining and blowing out.

I think I’m avoiding my larger task of organizing papers.

Say goodbye to a green space

On my walk in downtown Toronto yesterday I passed through this charming little oasis. It has a multiple fountain, some lacy trees, and a blocky sculpture. A sign from the property management company proudly declares that the plants in the garden are drought-resistant.

Three surveyors were measuring it up for demolition. It will be replaced by a sidewalk cafe, bringing in a little more money for the city.

Scenic Caves, Blue Mountain

two people overlooking a scenic view

cave-walk-14, originally uploaded by monado.

The Blue Mountain, near Collingwood, Ontario, has some of the decent skiing in Ontario. In the summer, you can have a modestly priced vacation and visit limestone caves in the Niagara Escarpment. The walk to the caves includes a stroll along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. Here’s a bit of the view from the escarpment, overlooking Georgian Bay, an arm of Lake Huron. Where are the caves? Well, they’re below the lookout points.

Running plans

The New York Times has a small roundup of beginners’ running plans:

And who knows, some day it might lead to longer runs.

2009-Toronto-half-runners-1

Walk in the Don Valley

The Don Valley Parkway was closed last week so we went for a walk in the Charles Sauriol nature reserve.

2009-04-26-don-river-n-of-forks-forsythia-1-med

Swim practice, April 27

swimmer blowing bubblesSwim workout in 25-yard pool, overseen by Coach Kelvin:

  • warm-up: freestyle, 50 yd. x 2 = 100
  • warm-up: (50 yd. breaststroke, 50 yd. freestyle) x 2 =  200
  • breathing skills:  (25 yd. on back, 25  on side, 25 arm extended, 25 roll) x 2 = 200
  • freestyle for cardio, 75 yd. x 8 = 600
  • freestyle, 25 yd. concentrating on kicking, 50 yd. fast, 75 yd concentrating on technique = 150

Total: 1250 yd. or 1125 metres.

Today’s improvement: getting a good long reach in freestyle stroke.

Afterward, I walked partway home—a mile or so.

walk-april