Hill-O Saturday!

So, like most of my blogs this one is going to be a random assortment of things I did or saw throughout the week. For the last month or so I've been practicing a couple times a week with the swim team. I am really enjoying myself and if I'm not too old and set in my ways I think Coach Mat will be able to help me with my form.

Ready for the 5am practice.

This week I also got to go out to lunch with Charity on Friday. It has been a while since I could make a lunch because of my work schedule so this was a real treat. We went to a noodle place in American Village where you order your food from a vending machine.

The first step in this process is to look at the picture menu and find something that looks good. This place actually had a menu with some English so it wasn't bad, but sometimes I really do go simply by the picture.

Second, insert money into the machine and make your selection (the pictures on the menu coordinate with the buttons).

Next, you take your ticket and hand it to the waitress. She then brings you your drink and you wait for your food.

Lastly, enjoy your delicious spicy noodles!

Before going in to the noodle place (I'm not writing its name because it was in Japanese and from now on will be referred to simply as that noodle place or that yummy noodle place) Charity and I saw this place:

What is Yogurtland you ask?

Good question. Unfortunately, despite the fact that I was dreaming of frozen yogurt goodness throughout lunch, they didn't actually have their grand opening until the next day! Oh, the agony! I did look them up on the internet though and the company started in L.A. and is all natural, fat-free frozen yogurt. I will definitely be going back!

After lunch I was supposed to go biking with Patti and Dennis, but it started to pouring so we played Settlers - the best board game ever!

Dennis was kind enough to take pictures of us in our matching raincoats. No, I did not realize we'd be twinsies when I purchased Rana's jacket!

Saturday was the day for my Weekend Warriors workout! The instructor, Jeff, is very good at coming up with different locations and different exercises so the workouts are never boring. Today we met back on Foster and got another great workout.

This is Jeff and some of his torture devices.

Here's the workout. Basically, we would do our maximum effort in 2 exercises 2 times and then we'd run a hill repeat (hence the name for this post). We had to do this 6 times. On the first hill I repeat I thought to myself 'I don't know if I'll be able to run all 6 times', but I did and I finished second coming in 5-10 seconds behind some guy.

Here's the hill. The yellow cone was our turn around point. Do you see the yellow cone? No? Me either, it was a long hill!

The workout was great, but the grass on the field was quite long (come on Marines - get it together). This was my view during the ab work and a lot of the warm-up. It really wasn't bad except it led to this:

Nice, red, itchy rash, but it went away when I showered.

Later that day Rana and I went to the beach with Dennis and Patti. They're watching her for me next week when I go to Okuma with work. The way the spoil her she might not want to come home!

We also went to a place Patti and Dennis discovered, the Dog Run and Cafe.

This was a great, quirky place where you can take your dog to play. I'm not sure of all the services they offer because there was very little English spoken, but it was fun and would be even better if more dogs were there.

There was a agility course for the dogs.

And fresh mango juice for the people.

It was a great Friday and Saturday leading into a party Saturday night, but that will have to be another blog because I'm heading out snorkeling with some friends from work. Happy Independence Day everyone!

Super Sunday

Last Sunday, I had a fantastic, relaxing day. I started off with a run with my partner Tiffany - our last run together until she gets back from Illinois in August. We went for a five miler down at the seawall.

So, we started at the Starbucks across from Camp Lester.

And made our way to American Village.

We wound our way around to the seawall. I always enjoy the graffiti art. We also saw a group of young locals passed out on the sidewalk surrounded by Saki and wine bottles. I definitely should have stopped for a picture!

We ran along the seawall and through Araha Beach. I loved this little old man on the bike. I tried to discreetly get a picture of people wearing sweat suits, a towel around their neck, and a huge visor, but none came out. I was sweating up a storm in a tank top and shorts; I don't know how they wear so much clothing.

Our turn around point is the stained glass bridge. My legs were still sore from the week before so we made a quick pit stop so I could stretch.

The stop was just long enough for us to see a cute lab.

No, this picture isn't meant to be of the picnic tables. I know it's hard to see, but behind the picnic area there is a group of older Japanese people doing Tai Chi.

My awesome partner Tiffany and me after our run. Boy was it humid that day! We definitely deserved our iced tea and coffee from Starbucks!

After the run, walking Rana, and cleaning up my friends Patti and Dennis took me out to lunch.

This is one of the nicest couples I've ever met. Not only do they check on me while Chris is gone, but when Patti knows that I'm working a long day she comes over and takes Rana home with her so Rana doesn't have to be trapped in her kennel all day.

We went to a place near Camp Foster - Cactus Eatrip. They serve homemade bagels.

It's a cool, funky little cafe that plays live music in the evenings.

Plus, the food is delicious! I think it's the best bagel I've ever eaten. You know it's good if I forgot to take a picture until I was halfway through the sandwich!

Dennis got a little dessert with his - I just liked the presentation.

I know, I know. Most of you are sick of posts on Rana, but this cracks me up. Maybe I've been living alone for too long and am easily amused.

And for the last bit of randomness, here's what we did in art at the Youth Center today.

I forgot it was Wednesday so had to come up with something fast. We did pom pom and pipe cleaner art. I thought my caterpillar turned out cute and the kids had a blast making anything from squirrels to fish to bunnies. They were very creative and I finally had to kick them out of the art area when it was 10 minutes until quitting time.

Weekly Round Up

So, there's no clever title because this week was a hodge podge and instead of doing multiple blogs I'm just going to shove everything together. Here goes! The start of the week was just work and working out, but I had Thursday off and it was nice and relaxing. Rana and I went to the beach with our friend Patti. Patti is a foster mom for the local rescue (OAARS - where we got Rana) so she often provides playmates for Rana. She doesn't currently have any foster dogs, but she was willing to play with us just the same. Plus, back in the states she trained dogs for the blind so she's very helpful at getting Rana to behave, but with as stubborn as Rana is I might have to hire Patti full time. Here are some pictures of our beach adventure:

Oh yeah, when Rana got a raincoat she also got a backpack. I know, you guys are thinking I'm crazy, but the Dog Whisperer says that for dogs with a lot of energy if you give them a backpack they'll focus on their job of walking.

Patti, Rana, and their big stick!

Patti and the Amazing Digging Rana!

What a mess!

My little pet pig, Rana!

Friday, Rana got to go to the beach again. This time it was with her new friends Mally and Jetta. These dogs make Rana look pretty small. Mally is a little dominant and Jetta is very shy, but they're all getting better about playing together. Their owner is Bridgette, a civilian that works on Kadena. Here's a play date pic:

Jetta is on the left, Mally is on the right.

Today I had my Weekend Warrior training. It was another good one. I wasn't able to go quite as low in the squats or lunges as usual because earlier in the week I blew out my quads, but the rest was great. It was another circuit set up, but this time it was on the beach. Luckily, the sand was pretty packed, but it still made for some nice resistance. My favorite part of the workouts is when we have to sprint to a cone. As we're running, if Jeff calls out your name you better haul it because if he tags you you owe him 10 burpees. During the last sprint of the day I thought I was giving it my all when I heard my name called. I definitely turned it up a notch. As I turned on the afterburners, I heard Jeff say "you always have more to give than you think." I liked that and I'm going to try to remember that during future workouts when I think I'm pooped.

A cool pirate ship play ground at Araha Beach.

Funny signs at the beach. Apparently you need to watch out for waves and jellyfish!

Part of the workout equipment!

After the workout - sweaty and sandy! Perfect!

Cutest thing ever!

Now, I'm sure all of you faithful readers have guessed that with a title like that I have to be talking about Rana. Well, you're right. I know all you non-dog people are going to shake your heads and think I'm nuts, but I got Rana a raincoat. What can I say? It rains a lot here. And while she doesn't mind getting wet I only have so many towels that I'm willing to designate dog towels. So when it rains for 10 days straight I run out of towels. I'm thinking the raincoat might help a little. Plus, OMG she looks super cute!