Worth the Wait

Ardi had an omelette for breakfast.  He said it had been a long time since he'd had an omelette and he certainly enjoyed his breakfast today.

I got up before 7am and checked to see if Ardi was awake or not.  He said he wanted to make a routine of our Saturday runs.  I got into bed with him and the moment I touched his knee, he stirred and opened his eyes.

"Are we running?"  I asked him.

He snuggled to get me closer and put a blanket over me.  I thought he was going to say 'not today' but instead he said, "OK.  Let's do it."

So we both got dressed.  I warned him I wasn't going to wear my contact lenses today so he'd better not run too far ahead of me because I wouldn't be able to see him.

He inquired if we were aiming for Stockland today.  I said maybe we should just try for two Coolong loops and see how that goes.

Off we went.  We brisk-walked for a while then broke into a slow jog.  At the onset, he was jogging beside me but after a while, I think my short strides proved too short for him.  He opted to jog at his own pace.  And this of course meant leaving me behind.

As expected, the gap between us widened quickly.  

I caught up with him because he had stopped at the start of the pedestrian walkway by Coolong Park.  This meant that he managed to run a bit farther than last week before needing to catch his breath.

He said, "I don't think I can do two loops.  I'm out of breath."

"OK,"  I said, "we can head home then."

I proceeded with my run and figured he'd catch up with me eventually.

On the downward slope of Coolong towards Parsonage, I decided to extend my run a bit by doing the small Southleigh loop.  I figured it shouldn't take me TOO long to run that stretch and I would be able to catch up with Ardi or if not, he'd wait for me at home because he didn't have a key to get into the house.

When I finished the loop and got back to the downward Coolong stretch, I wondered if I would see Ardi.

Ardi was wearing his school sports uniform which was white.

'There he is,' I thought as I ran some more trying to catch up with him.

Oops, nope.  That's a mailbox.  (Definitely nearsighted and practically blind without glasses.)

So I ran a tad faster and hit Parsonage.

"Ardi!"  I called out.  I wanted to make sure that he turned right towards home rather

 than left to run a second loop.

But I couldn't see him nor was I certain that he could hear him, so I ran some more.

Then I spotted him.  This time I was sure it was him.  I could see the blur of the blue edges of his sports uniform.  (I wish he'd wear something bright and distinctive so I could spot him from afar.)

I called out again and this time I think he heard me because he stopped and faced me.

Once I was sure he'd seen me, I slowed down my pace to a brisk walk to catch up.  

He knew I was praying the rosary and when we were together, he offered to pray with me.  He was quite shocked to discover that I was only on the third mystery.  (Last time, he caught me at the fifth.)   

When we got home, he asked what he could have for breakfast.  I rattled off some things I thought might be there for him to eat because I told him I was leaving to catch the 8am mass.  

"If I wait for you to come back, will you make me something?"

"Sure."

"I'll wait then."

So that is how Ardi got his one and a half egg mushroom and cheese omelette this morning.  

The Tortoise and the Hare

Hi all.  Am TRYING to start running again.  

Yes, shame on me, the last time I ran ( my last blogpost ) was over 5 months ago.

I had been thinking about running since November.  Sadly, Christmas passed, New Year's Day passed, Australia Day passed, Valentine's Day passed.  The Lenten Season came and went.  Still running for me was still a thought, not a reality.

Finally I asked Ardi if he wanted to run with me.  He has actually been training for the City2Surf on 12 August.   He and some of his classmates go for a 3 km run as early as 7:30 in the morning twice a week at school.  

I told Ardi that I didn't know if I could run that far since I hadn't been exercising at all.  We had agreed that if we were awake by 7am, we would go for a run.

I woke up before seven and wondered whether Ardi would be up to it.  He was fast asleep.

At 7:05, I got up and moved in under the quilt with Ardi.  

He stirred.  "What time is it?"

"7:05.  Are we going?"

Ardi turns to give me a hug.

"We don't have to run," I told Ardi.  "Dad might get mad that I'm waking you up."

"No, Mom.  Let's just do it."

So we both got up and got dressed.  

After the requisite stretching, we set off.  He teased me about the complexity of the preparation needed for me to run -- change clothes, put on contact lenses, wear a cap, find my rosary bracelet and bring house keys.

We had decided to do the Coolong route primarily because I wasn't sure whether I could manage the run.  I told Ardi I normally brisked walked to warm up.  He said they would run forward and backward across the gym.   He said he knew we couldn't run backwards, so he bargained brisk walking up to the corner.  I agreed.

We brisk walked together.  When we crossed the street and reached the agreed corner, he and I started our run.  

It was more like, started our "run" or started "our" run.

Started our "run"?  I don't know about Ardi, but I don't really run.  I jog. 

Started "our" run?  The moment we shifted from walking to jogging, Ardi was three strides ahead of me.  His regular jog made me feel as if I was walking.  He definitely has longer legs than I have.  He was running, I was jogging. 

I only managed to bridge the gap a little when he stopped at the corner of Parsonage and the start of Coolong.  He stopped and walked to cross the street then resumed his run.  

At that  point I knew I couldn't catch up to him.

I ran past an elderly lady who Ardi had passed earlier.   I greeted her good morning and told her that I was trying to catch up with my son.  She smiled and said, "he's too fast for you?"  I laughed and replied, "Yup!"  

I couldn't see him anymore as I turned the bend.  I figured once I manage to hit end of Coolong, I was sure to see him since there would be a long stretch of road.  Little did I know that I would be seeing him much sooner than that.

As I approached the corner, I saw him.  There he was right at the corner, stooped forward and catching his breath.

He may have the speed, but he sure doesn't have the stamina.

I kept on going.

He resumed his jog and immediately caught up with me.  (I told you he has long legs.)

We briefly ran side by side until he slowed down again and resumed his walk.

"I'm out of breath, Mom.  I can't run anymore."

I kept my pace.  I knew that once I turned the corner, the road would be downhill and it would be an easier run.  

I was on the fourth mystery as I was jogging downhill.

Before I got to Parsonage, I decided to turn back towards Ardi instead of head home.  I figured it would be more fun to walk home together.

He smiled when he saw me running towards him.  

When we met up, I stopped to walk along side him.  I was proud to have managed to keep up with my fourteen year old.  

Actually, I had a secret weapon - my rosary.

We continued homeward walking side by side, praying the fifth mystery.

Let Me Start Again

Exercise.  I need exercise.

I've started running again.  I am hoping I can get back to the groove of running in the morning and doing some other exercise in between.

Last Saturday afternoon, I ran for about 15 minutes (and walked some distance).  It was a good run.  Then yesterday, Ardi and I exercised together.

That's a good start, I think.  Now if I can only get past the aching muscles.

Give Me a Hand

I finished the book and I completed all thirty lessons by 03 August.  

So the author WAS right ... you CAN draw in 30 days.

Don't you think Mai and I deserved a big hand?

LESSON 30:  YOUR HAND OF CREATIVITY 

Mai's hand ... 

my hand ...

(Of course, even after those thirty lessons, I still don't know for sure if I can draw a decent house, airplane and donut/bagel.)

Small Circle, Small Circle, Big Circle

Aside from the straight lines, I also thoroughly enjoyed drawing the spheres. 

I was quite impressed when I was able to get some texture in the Advanced Level Spheres lesson. I never imagined that a bunch of spiky and squiggly lines could provide such effects.

When we were small, we would draw those koala bears using the song, 'small circle, small circle, big circle (that would make the face of the bear where the small circles were the eyes and the big circle going around the two small circles made the face), six times six, six times six ... thirty six (that would make the arms and then legs of the bear where the first two sixes made the arms and the last two would make the legs)'.  It didn't make for a very impressive bear, but it did remind you what six times six was equal to (plus it got a big laugh from Ardi when I showed him the bear that came with the "song").  

Below is the koala from Lesson 8.  I surprised myself.  I think I've come a long way from the small circle, small circle, big circle bear.

July Journey

I borrowed the book You Can Draw In 30 Days by Mark Kistler from the library.

http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Draw-30-Days/dp/0738212415

Mai and I started our drawing journey on the 03 July.  We  figured we'd be able to finish all thirty lessons before the library book was due.


Mai was able to finish all the lessons by the end of July.  All her work on the thirty lesson is posted in my (slightly more public)  blog.   Below are the sketches I am particularly proud of.

The Rose was Lesson 9.   This was drawn on 08 July, meaning we'd managed to squeeze in nine lessons in just five days.

The Lily was Lesson 14.  This is my bonus challenge sketch.  The core lesson was to draw a single lily.

Lesson 16: The Wave, surprised me. It looks so pretty and I actually sketched this.  Can you believe it?  

Based on the date, I was already one day late on my lessons by this time.  Mai was still on track, and possibly ahead already, but I didn't mind.  I was just happy to draw.

The Rippling Flag bonus challenge of Lesson 17.  These started off as five cylinders, can you imagine?

Beauty in the simplicity of Lesson 23 : A City in One Point Perspective.  

I love perspective.  I had a book on perspective back in Manila but I never really sat down and drew.  So, in spite the fact that this sketch is just a combination of straight lines, I still love it.

Moving right along, we see A Castle in Two Point Perspective c/o Lesson 25.  This was drawn on 27 July, by this time, I was already two days delayed in my lessons!

I needed a couple of extra days to finish my last drawing.   The book had already been renewed once meaning I would have to return it unless I wanted to pay a fine.   

As mentioned, Mai was already done by the end of July.  When I checked my mail on 03 August before going to work, I found a  library notice reminding me that the book was due on the 4th.  I forwarded the library notice to Mai with a message saying "Oh no!!!!! I have draw tonight!"   On my way back from work, I found this encouraging reply from Mai, "Draw! Draw! Draw!"

Guilty as Charged!

Look at the date, oh my goodness how fast time flies.  It is almost August.

I admit it.  I didn't get much exercise this month.

I was busy... doing other things...

(So although the label of this blog post is EXERCISE, it is more like :  EXERCISE ... NOT!)