Extremes

Interesting map from NOAA/HPC showing precipitation differences from the long term mean for 2011 (okay so 2011 isn't over yet but I don't think we're going to see this map change much).

I spent Jan - July 2011 in College Station, Texas where it was so incredibly dry this year (and hot too) - over 20 inches LESS rain than average.

In July I moved to Albany, New York where there has been over 20 inches MORE rain than average.

Couldn't have lived in two more different places!!!

Workout Woes

After using the university gym, which is free for me, and finding it far from adequate (it cant be much bigger than my apartment), both Matt and I joined planet fitness. It has been pretty great so far. I go after work and run and lift weights. The dark and cold in the evening had pretty much prevented outdoor running in the evening (weekends have been mild up to now so I've done a few runs then) so treadmill it is.

I do still use the pool at the university though even though its not the best it certainly is not the worst pool I've swam in, and I've been to a few!! I suppose I've been spoiled by spending 3 1/2 years at Texas A&M which has a world class pool :-)

I've been keeping up with running/swimming/lifting weights 5 times a week and Tuesday is usually swim day. The trouble is, I'm really not feeling it today... sleepy, achey and generally tired. "Well, what's your problem, just don't go" I hear you say. My problem is I feel horribly guilty when I don't workout on a day that I plan too. Does anyone else get this? Maybe I should let my body have a rest and ignore the guilt, maybe I should just power through as sometimes working out actually makes me feel better if I'm not 100 %.

It's still early in the day and hopefully the Tazo passion tea that I'm drinking now will help perk me up and I'll want to swim later. Either that or I'll just have to learn to be okay with having a break... am I really going to put on weight and get out of shape for missing one day?!

The Melting Pot

For the first time ever we went to the Melting Pot for dinner on Friday, perhaps I'm behind the times but hey, they had a special deal. Apart from having a bruise on my knee from repeatedly whacking my knee on the burners (only one knee though, weird) it was a really great dinner. So much food! For those that maybe don't know, the Melting Pot is a fondue restaurant and even the main entree is served fondue style - raw seasoned meat is served with a pot of flavoured broth that you cook it in.

The best parts were the cheese fondue and the chocolate (cookies and cream) fondue - if only I hadn't eaten so much before hand I could have eaten that whole pot by myself. Will be going back for cheese and chocolate!!