... be careful what you wish for ...

So I left thinking I was not going to exercise ... but a little voice inside my head just said to stop thinking about it and just do it ... which I actually did!  I got changed in an instant ... and headed for the bike ... 45 - 60 minutes sitting down ... that was not sounding bad at all ...

... well, it would not have been ... but when I got to the gym the one and only bike was TAKEN!  Not to look silly by walking in and out of the gym with people I will never see again I headed for the dreaded treadmill.  I set the auto program that puts you in a 20 minute run ... as always I had to play games with my mind ... sometimes I believe I am the one that is making myself miserable in the treadmill when my body is actually OK. 

I finished my 20 min with 2 miles and as I headed for the water the bike was AVAILABLE ... jumped right on for a nice 20 minute ride ... caught up on my blogs and finished ... while on the bike I decided to just do my last mile on the treadmill to get to a minimum of 3 for the day ... as I descended from the bike ... the last of 3 treadmills was TAKEN ... I felt so foolish ... be careful what you wish for they say ... after being ungrateful that all 3 treadmills were available for me when I walked into the gym ... now I found myself being mad that they were all taken ... IRONIC!

Thankfully, while doing light stretching MY treadmill (I chose a treadmill and that is the one I use for the duration of my trip ... I know weird) ... I jumped right on and did 1:10 miles in 10 minutes ... and now I am here typing away basking very proudly that I exercised on all days of my trip!

***

My battle with daily weigh ins ...

I am addicted to weighing myself ... I say addicted because it is really not a fun thing for me ... it can ruin moments of my day ... like today.  (Thankfully the feeling described in last paragraph above is stronger than the feeling of that of the weigh in this morning). 

There is a scale in the gym ... and I weighed myself every day ... lightly dressed, (running clothes - no shoes), so it has to be pretty accurate ... though I was OK with not loosing any weight despite eating fewer calories than usual and exercising throughout my trip ... but TODAY I gained weight ... 2 pounds it seemed ... I did not want to look too closely ... 

I want to loose 5 - 7 pounds ... my weight has really always been the same ... except that I did gain some weight after coming to the US ... but no matter how I try I just can't loose these pounds ... age they say ... my metabolism is different ... I don't want to hear that ... sadly, I want to get home and weigh myself in MY scale to see what I did in fact gain ... after all the work done ... kind of depressing.

I would love not to want to use the scale ... I just feel I can.

***

Creature of Habit

Yes, that would be me ... so I am here to present my last breakfast in Vancouver ... behold there is a little change ... European Sausage instead of fruit ... Note to self: Don't be so boring ... :)

Ciao a tutti ... a dopo ... J

... dinner after the show ...

Yesterday morning I could hardly move and my bed just seemed liked the best place to be ... I woke up at WEST coast time so I know I am just exhausted.

I really did not know if I could go to the gym and be on my feet knowing that I had another day ahead of me on my feet.

I gathered my strength and went for a 45 minute bike ride that felt great!  I am very proud for being able to exercise thus far on a tradeshow trip ... however as I write this words ... feeling my legs and my lower back ... I do not think if I will make it today!

This of course was yesterday!

If you read my blog you know I love cooking and love making elaborate dishes when my schedule permits ... I am not a breakfast eater, except on trips ... and also I can be boring in my choices ... and that is why my frequent readers will not be surprised to see that my breakfast for the 3rd day in a row has consisted of this:



I decided to focus on the bread to give a "new" look on a very familiar menu on my menu lately.  The wheat toast is deliciously buttery and there is always red raspberry jam on the table ... YUM ... Side note:  the fruit was returned, there was no fresh cut on that plate ...

I usually try to walk the show ... this time we were short staffed and this is the only shot I could get of many glorious teas on my way to get some water!

I insisted after shows end that we dismantle the booth instead of spending thress hours today.  That is the type of person I am and with some grunts and ahhh from the team, they obliged ...

Building "down" the booth take a second compared to setting it up and by 7:30 everything was packed and ready to go.

Time to go to dinner and tonight we had a special treat ... Tojo's ... the creator of the California Roll.



Instead of going to the restaurant we decided to sit at the sushi bar to be entertained by Tojo himself.

First course - Tuna Tartare with Uni Sauce

Second course: Lobster Chowder

Third course: Paper Thin Octopus

Fourth Course: Red Snapper and Rice Crackers

Fifth Course: Lobster Handroll with Asparagus and Spicy Sauce

Sixth Course: Lobster Roll

Seventh Course: the freshest Toro Tuna ever!

Eigth Course: Cucumber Roll with Lobster

Ninth and (sneaked in course): Sweet Prawns

The tradeshow was up to this point a success ... dinner was exquisite, but oh my poor feet and back ... lets see if I can get a ride in ... I just cannot bear the thought of running ... (treadmill no less!)

... buona giornata ... a dopo ... J



... tradeshow ... day 1 ... great ...

I am still trying to get through my Runners World Magazine ... this is where I am ...

Loved the editors letter on running with his children ... learning to see running in a new light, being a little less strict on the rules and regulation of training ... how refreshing ... Loved it!  (Oh, and by the way I am still not done reading and I have had had it for at least two weeks!)

Repeat breakfast at the hotel.

Before:

After:

My mom always taught me to leave something on the plate ... the remnants of strawberries count as something, right?

After a very quick breakfast it was off to the show!

Look at the beautiful display case ...

I actually have to say that I love tradeshows in Canada ... the hours are reasonable, eventhough we still have long days ... today we went from 8:30 - 6:15 non-stop ... on my feet with heels ... not too comfy ... I know people tell me why don't I just wear comfortable shoes ... the truth is that at 5'3" I need all the help I can get.

After a thorough cleaning of the booth and a full day ... I went to the Catholic Cathedral for Mass.  I was so excited ... I really love to go to Cathedrals ... love architecture ... my feet were killing me, but I was happy when I got to the beautiful Cathedral only to find ...

Yes ... closed for renovations ... :( ... Mass was held in the nearby event hall ...

After Mass I met my friend/co-worker for dinner at Cardero's ... a restaurant close to the hotel.

 Actually Vancouver has a Restaurant Week like in Charlotte ... so I got my Tbone steak appetizer and dessert for $28.00 USD.

I started with mozzarella and pomodoro.

Behold the steak ... we had not eaten all day so I was feeling I needed a little boost in iron.  Not bad ... but not great either.

 That is all for today ... a dopo ... J



... another running day ...

 This is me today ... laced this time ... :)

That is right I made it to the gym at 6:05 a.m.  OK it really feels like 9:05 a.m., but being that I did wake up at 3:00 a.m. Vancouver time and 6:00 a.m. our time ... that time on the gym clock has to count for something! ;)

I started off by warming up and reading my book on the stationary bike ... I have to admit the time just flew ... I was not going full speed but I was pushing myself ... then off to the treadmill ... ah, I really don't like the treadmill after two minutes ... I really need to venture out and run outside ... the first minute felt great ... then the same guy from yesterday came to disturb my run ... he runs fast and hard and just makes me seem slow ... at least today he said hi BUT NOT bye ... I just don't understand it!

Recap of my run ...

Minute 1 - feeling great

Minute 2 - interrupted by gym man

MInute 3 to 20 - WHY! WHY! do I run ... why does it only feel really good until its over ...

Minute 21 - two cup water break

Restart last mile

Minute 1 - WOW that minute went back fast only 9 to go

Minute 2 to 9 - why is the time moving so slow???

Minute 10 - 8 something pace for one minute ... this feels great ...

3 mile run DONE and it feels GREAT!

* Nostalgic when a 6 mile run was considered short in my book :(

Off to get ready ... with my 4 mile bike ride and my 3 mile run makes my day start off on the right foot.

As always I am running late ... gotta go ... a dopo ... J

... walking in the city ...

After many delays last night I finally was able to enjoy my room!

I used to only ask for king rooms ... truthfully I have found that many times the double bed suits me much better ... a wonderful orderly bed for my restful sleep and then another bed to keep my mess. 

Got a great deal at Hotwire so I am a happy camper and so is my company ... :)

***

Today was a great day ... I woke up really early ... that is the beauty of waking up at East coast time on the West coast ...

I love to run in Vancouver ... but it was so dark this morning I decided to go to the gym ... which actually was not bad at all.  I was able to get my run and a 15 minute stint at the stationary bike. 

I was able to get my run and a 15 minute stint at the stationary bike. 

After a quick shower it was time for breakfast ... I was so happy I gathered the will power that sometimes escapes me to get my run in before going to the tradeshow.

I opted to go to Prestons the hotel restaurant to grab a bite to eat.

The decor was interesting ...

My waitress was Josee ... from Quebec ... she was really sweet and pleasant ... she asked me why I was taking pictures and then I proceeded to tell her about ... semplicemente ... j ... I told her about how I write for me and how fun I find it to connect to other bloggers around the globe.  Josee shared with me her desire to start a fashion blog ... she told me she would check my blog out ... so Josee if you are reading this ... looking forward to seeing your fashion blog soon  ...

***

Onto breakfast - one egg sunny side up - fruit and delicious wheat toast ... amazing ... I am not a breakfast eater but for some reason if I am on the road for work I love to indulge in breakfast!

After breakfast I was pleasantly surprised to find that the convention center was just a five minute if that much walk ... what could be better ...

Since I moved to the States I have been unable to walk places ... I remember just getting lost with the girls just walking from store to store, around the city of Treviso, Italy ... before we knew it the day was done ... the evening had arrived and we were still going from place to place talking about sweet little nothings ... now that we live in the US, we rarely walk unless it is inside a building ... we live outside of the city so there is really no place to go without having to take your car.  My hope is to move when the girls go to college, closer to uptown ... (downtown) Charlotte so that I can actually do something by foot!

A view of the city outside my "door"

Yes, it was indeed raining and actually snowing by the time I got to the convention center ... it was freezing cold and yet I could not stop smiling ... glorious nature!

***



Photo Challenge - Day 28 - Light

The atmosphere was interesting when I arrived to the convention center ... I would have loved to had the time to actually take a better picture of what the light evoked on that chilly morning in an almost empty convention center.



This sign awaited me on the way to the hall ... luckily it fit just right with my exercise filled morning ... (plus going down with no luggage is really not that hard!)

It was still however a long way down.

This of course was the sight at show site ... not pretty ... help! Long day awaited us ... and the build of a booth I had only semi-done once.

Around 5:00 p.m. we just could not go any longer so we decided to go out of lunch ... dinner really ... east coast time ...

Photo Challenge - Day 30 - Nature ... 

Snow on the mountain tops ... water ... the harbour ... love ...

 We walked to a nearby food court and again ... my mind was thinking french fries ... thankfully the line was too long ... and we opted for a lighter healthier lunch ... I usually do not enjoy fast food sushi ... but it was not bad ... after what seemed a minute and a half we are and left and were back at the show ..

At 8:00 p.m. we were done ... 12 hours after we started ... this is the undecorated gelato ... does it not look amazing!

After finally finishing the setup ... we went to our respective homes/hotels ... I walked :) ... they drove ... my choice ... it actually was warmer than it had been in the morning, but just as equally glorious if not more!

I debated having dinner ... because I was so tired ... but I was convinced into dinner when my friend/co-worker walked back to my hotel ... we shared a BLT which was actually delicious and french fries ...yes, I ate a few, just a few I am really trying ... I ordered a side order of ROASTED fingerling potatoes and jasmine rice for me ... rice OK, potatoes NOT so much ... many were left behind ... come to think of it ... much of the rice was left behind too ... he ordered fizzy water ... and that was it ... only to find I paid $38 ... for what!!!

I love spending money and buying things ... but I do not like to pay a stupidity for a dinner like this ... I can't even think what I would have spent had we ordered separate entrees ... I try to be really mindful of how I spend my company's money when I am on the road and it really bothers me when I make dumb choices like this ... had it been at a restaurant or another type of meal but a sandwich ... ONE and two side items ... ridiculous ...

... I must go now to the gym ... to tell you the truth it is 5:00 AM here and all I would love to do is stay in bed doing nothing until it is time to get ready ... but I am going to attempt to keep the ball rolling ...

... a dopo ... J



... and the delays continue ...

So here I am sitting at the airport waiting for me new flight to leave. The flight out of Charlotte was delayed by one hour, they made up the time on air, and I actually could have made my flight to Vancouver which actually left with almost an hour delay. I always travel with a carry on. I had great timing in choosing to check my bag today ... NOT!

No computer. No power. I should be reading but I decided to catch up on my favorite blogs instead.

... a dopo ... J

... take time to breathe ...

What a morning ... I realize that my mind and my heart are racing ... I feel stressed ... I am at the airport - bags are checked in ... breakfast was had ... but the plane is not here ... I need to get to Vancouver as there is a show to be taken care of ... my morning has been a mess ... packing (and forgetting) stuff ... I am stressed ... the emails from work have been all problems ... just when I thought I was catching up ...

I really feel like this blog is cathartic for me ... a place to have a place for me and the readers that visit me ... I have no wonderful recipes ... (I am lazy ... and never follow recipes, so how can I provide them?) ... I only have little insights of my day and things that happen and I am learning to be more open to parts that I may sometimes be weary to share.

... as I am writing this post I just realized I sent my computer charger in my bags ... ahh ... and the day gets better and better ... I need to do the one minute meditation .. I will do after I finish writing these words ...  

I better be quick before I loose power ...

Photo Challenge - Day 29 - ( I think) - in your fridge

I tried to get a decent pic of what is inside but it is not very easy when you have an island right in front of it ...  this pic made me realize that my family is not going to be very well fed while I am gone ... need to go grocery shopping!  Not as neat as it usually is ...  shoot ... the pic is blurry ... that is what you get when your eyes turn 40!  :)

Photo Challenge - Day 27 - lunch

This is actually breakfast ... had to run out the door to catch my flight which is now delayed ... yes ... those are my email folders in the background ... wish I could have ignored the emails today :( ...

 This is actually going to be lunch ... I know I am trying to go light on the cheese ... but I am also trying to be healthy and this is the only thing I found that was not on the heavy non diet side ... (my mind is actually thinking McDonald's French Fries) ... so veggies and cheese ... one of my favorite waters ... FIJI and for dessert ... of course ... chewing gum ...  I actually wish I had the energy to walk to concourse D to buy some Frozen Yogurt ... but ... I do not have it today ....

So wish me luck and a not so late departure I NEED to catch my connecting flight to Vancouver!

... a dopo ... hopefully from Canada ...  J

... I am all caught up ... and now I have to run!

I am all caught up ... Yes!

So ... and for the remaining items on the list in order for me to be all caught up with day 27 is ...

Photo Challenge - Day 15 - Happiness

Being with my girls brings me happiness every day ... with the ups and the downs ... the scolding and the messy rooms ... my life is complete with them by my side ... I am so proud to see the beautiful young ladies that they have become ... so responsible ... so beautiful ... so amazing ...

 ... and that young "man" right here ... well, he brings me happiness too!

Photo Challenge - Day 16 - Morning

I am trying to have breakfast everyday ... I remember my mom saying to me when I was a little girl ... "eat, ANYTHING, just please have breakfast!"  I could in fact eat anything I wanted, but truthfully I did not want anything. I just could not wake up and eat ... as much as I LOVE eating I just can't eat early in the morning.  Also, when I don't breakfast, I pretty much feel like I do not have to eat anything all day ... well, anything during the work day ... when I have breakfast I feel hungry all day ... when I was younger this unstructured eating seemed to work with me ... plenty of energy all day regardless and go-go-go at work ... well, this was fine before ... but now my body does not seem to be agreeing with this eating structure any longer ... (I know it was not a good one, it just happened with rushing and work) ...  but don't be fooled ... this smoothie is not for me ... it is for my Nana ... she is trying to eat healthy and I am helping her ... so today it was yogurt and strawberries ... no bananas this morning ... as for me ... now that I profess to be a little "wiser", I am trying to eat breakfast and lunch while at work .. so I have cereal a little after I get to work, which is actually the time when I do start get hungry ... and TRY to have lunch ... 

It brings me happiness to be able to make this smoothie, why?  Because it means that I am at home while the girls are getting ready to go to school ...  it means I get to see my girls in the morning ... (so this pic actually works for day 16 AND day 15!)

I used to be at work very early. Being that I work 50 KM (36 miles) from my office ... I used to leave at the crack of dawn ... actually just sneaking a kiss to my beautiful girls ... until I just had enough ... I realized not being able to have some type of morning with my girls made me very sad ... and being that I often work late hours and skip lunch ... I believe that I work than my share of hours and make up for the 15 or 30 minute late arrival.

Starting my day late is sooo worth it ... I have an amazing boss that has silently :) accepted my "new and improved" starting schedule. (As I try to sneak in the office without being noticed ... :) ... not really!) 


I feel I am happier when I arrive to the office ... I feel that I it brings me much joy to hear the girls getting ready, making a smoothie for them ... telling them how pretty they look or laugh at some of the wardrobe choices on dress down days when there is no uniform involved.  It makes me happy that I can hear my little one grace us with her "beautiful" voice as she belts out songs ... in a very interesting way ... yes, yes, she gets that from me.

It ESPECIALLY makes me happy to know that when Turchese goes off to college, I was there in the morning, during this special year ... even if we are just getting ready ... I am there ... making a less than perfect smoothie that she will promptly compliment ... and my morning and my day will be complete.

... no I am off to pack ... and as usual ... I am running late! ... a dopo ... J