Friday, September 12, 2025

Weekly Round Up: One Away

 

A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches, and reads.  A theme of this week is that I am one step away from finishing some delightful projects. 


Eats

Nothing to share.  It was a fly by the seat of our pants kinda week.

Workouts

Hubs and I are one ride away from finishing the 100 mile hike n'bike trail that we started last year.  We're going to miss it when it's done.


The highlight of our weekend ride was a pretty long tunnel, resulting in the mandatory "shot from within the tunnel" at the top of this post.


In other fitness/things to do, my town held a first ever 9/11 stair climb.  The objective was to climb the same number of stairs in the World Trade Center by climbing our high school stadium stairs.


There are seven sets of stairs in the stadium, and 16 rounds was supposed to be the equivalent of the Twin Towers, and the event organizers stressed that no one should feel the pressure to complete the challenge.  I wasn't sure what they meant since I'd read there were 110 flights, and I'd climbed 50 flights of stairs in about 25 minutes (including a lengthy pause after going up to fast and completely losing my breath) at the Fight for Air Climb last spring, so what was the big deal?

The big deal is that I failed to do the math of the TWIN Towers.  At the end of round 1, I saw that 10 minutes had gone by, and did the math that this was not going to be a quick "do it before work" kind of deal.  My work schedule is flexible, but not "do something that is projected to last three hours" flexible.  Sure enough the crowd started thinning out after the second round.

In the end I did four rounds of the stairs which took 45 minutes and left me drenched in sweat.  If I'd had more time I coulda done another round.  Next year my goal will be to do six rounds.


Watching


We are one episode away from the end of Seinfeld.  That is all.

Over the weekend, Hubs and I came full circle on a conversation that we had two years ago.  He was at Boy Scout camp and someone recommended the movie The Name of the Rose.  Hubs texted me about it, and I replied that oh yes I remembered it so well from when I was a kid, which is your cue that we're headed for another episode of Things I Misremembered.  I proceeded to tell Hubs that it was set in medieval times and Sean Connery was a monk and there was a falcon that was a woman, though I didn't remember the details on that.  We sat down to watch The Name of the Rose, which of course stars Sean Connery as a monk, but there is no lady who turns into a bird.  After an extensive Google search, I found out that there is a movie called Ladyhawke that fits the bill.  Somehow it popped into my head last weekend and we finally saw it.


First of all, it makes total sense that my brain condensed The Name of the Rose and Ladyhawke into the same movie.  They are two movies that came out around the same time, and both are set in medieval times and both plots involve monks.  So there!

Second of all, this movie might have been a bit more up my alley as a young 'un, but it worked delightfully well as a date night movie.  So if 80's fantasy movies are your jam, then get on it!

If 80's comedies that are rude and crude but yet surprisingly heartfelt are more up your alley, may I recommend Used Cars?  I had never heard of this movie, which makes sense since it came out when I was five, and my parents were very permissive but not that permissive. 


But wait, there's more!  I've heard people talk about the show The Gilded Age from time to time, but it wasn't until Nicole and I spent a couple of days talking last month that I learned that OMG IT'S THE SAME TEAM THAT DID DOWNTON ABBEY!!!!  WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME THIS????????


I'm two episodes in and it is sooooooooo good.

Reading

A short n'sweet report this week.  The Road to Tender Hearts ended up being a 😻😻😻 read.

Currently: I'm rereading Anne of Green Gables for the first time since middle school.

Why?

Well, that's the other thing that I'm one away from.  One more flight and I'll be in Nova Scotia, with a side trip to PEI.



Peace out!  Have you ever combined two movies or books into one story like I did with Name of the Rose/Ladyhawke?  Who's seen the Gilded Age?  Got any long term projects that you're one step away from completing?

Heads up that if past trips are any indication that I will likely fall behind in blogging.  But I am sure that Elisabeth will stay up to date, so check in at her house for more timely updates on the adventures to come.

41 comments:

  1. Have the best time in Nova Scotia and PEI! Hug Elisabeth for me!

    I have never heard of The Name of the Rose or Ladyhawke which tells you how little I know about films and such. Phil is always amazed by the # of things I did not watch when I was young.

    My long term project this summer was training for a 10 mile and the race is tomorrow. I'm so ready for it to be here and to be over TBH. It's nice to train for something but I"ll be glad to mix things up and do some OTF classes instead of logging long runs! I do plan to do a 10k on Thanksgiving so I'll keep running, just not super long runs.

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    1. GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!!! I wish the forecast was different, but you will do great.

      Good times are underway in NS, and I delivered your hug to Elisabeth!

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  2. The Gilded Age just gets better and better, omg, you are going to love it!! I adore Aunts Agnes and Ada, and the costumes my god the costumes. I am SO happy you like it! I am bereft that it will be another year until we get more - but you still have so much to go!
    Enjoy your time in NS!!!

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    1. I know I have three seasons to catch up on, but I am pacing myself because it's already good from the get-go and I know it will just get better and better as the characters and story develops. It's just so satisfying to have a good show!

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  3. You're the second blogger today to mention The Gilded Age. When I'm able to get it I'll watch it. I read The Name of the Rose, but didn't know about the movie. Enjoy your vacation in NS. I'm sure you'll find something or someone fun there.

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  4. Enjoy your trip! My mother and I first went to PEI (in 1985) because of reading Anne of Green Gables. We last went in the late 90s, I think, and even at that point a lot had changed, but there were still moments where you can absolutely picture Anne, in her room at Green Gables, for instance. Those books were so magical to me when I was younger. And going to the LMM birthplace is what told me the author had written so many more books!

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    1. Did you read The Blue Castle? That was such an eye opener for what a good writer LMM is. I can't wait to get on the scene and see it in person.

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  5. Oooooh! How exciting! I hope you have the best time visiting Elisabeth!

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    1. The best time is being had! I can't stop with the cliche because it's true - she is EXACTLY how she is on her blog and her family is lovely.

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  6. YAY for your trip and visiting Elisabeth!!! It looks to be SO beautiful where she lives, I know you will have an amazing time.

    My daughter and I watched the 1st season of The Guilded Age and loved it, then watched a couple of episodes of season 2 and lost that loving feeling, or got distracted, I don’t remember. Anyway, we forgot about it. With season 3 suddenly everyone is talking about it, so I hopped back on and am now in the middle of season 2 and am LOVING it and not sure at all why I bailed. Fickle that way, I guess.

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    1. The beauty of NS has been confirmed! We're headed for an epic weekend.

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  7. Just popping in to say I had the same Gilded Age revelation (probably read about the DA connection on Nicole's blog!) and just finished season 3 last night. The costumes! The "everything is all right in the end" storytelling! I am eagerly awaiting season 4!

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    1. It's so good! I'm going to take it really slow and spread out the episodes so that I can savor it.

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  8. That tunnel shot is cool. And I love that you participated in the 9/11 stair challenge.... it's awesome you did 5 rounds! 3 hours of stair climbing sounds excessive LOL

    I cannot wait to hear about your visit with Elisabeth... and I am superjealous in the best possible way that you get to hang out with each other! CBs UNITE!

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    1. I definitely need more of a heads up when something is going to take 3 hours;-)

      Needless to say, the time with Elisabeth is epic!

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  9. Have a great time with Elisabeth! I can't wait to hear all about all the fun times once you get back and have time to do the recap!

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    1. It's going to be an epic recap, I can tell you that much!

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  10. Well this is hilarious. I'm writing a comment on your blog WHEN YOU'RE DOWNSTAIRS IN MY GUEST ROOM AT THIS VERY SECOND!!!!
    I'm excited for the days ahead and so glad we were able to carve out a few tiny adventures on Day 1.
    I was obsessed with Downtown Abbey for a while. I literally could not stop watching (which is odd for me, because I'm not a huge TV/movie person). But eventually I lost interest somewhere toward the end of the series and never picked it up again which always makes me a bit sad. But I also don't have much interest in revisiting it. A bit like we were talking about not wanting to re-read beloved favourite books in case they don't stand up the same way in our memory, I really enjoy memories of binge watching Downtown and worry I wouldn't enjoy it quite the same.
    Anyhoo, that long ramble to say: instead of re-watching Downtown, maybe I just need to start watching The Gilded Age, instead!

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    1. This IS hilarious!! hahaha! Have the BEST time you guys!! :)

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    2. It is very meta to respond to a comment when you're in the same room with the other person!

      I loved DA TV show but it was so long after that when the movies came out that I figured I had lost the plot so I never tried to watch them. That's why it's such a delight to find a whole new show that has the same feel but a different story.

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  11. Phew, are these firefighters doing their climb in full gear?
    Well done on your 9/11 climb, Birchie!!! You had me doing some math and yes, you are right, a 3-hour workout is no joke!
    I love that you still knocked out four solid rounds in 45 minutes, that’s huge. And just think, next year you will not be pressured to go back to the work desk, and you can take your time with the 6 rounds!
    Enjoy your time with Elisabeth!

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  12. Sorry about being "Anonymous", that's Catrina

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  13. When you mentioned the film In the Name of the Rose, I got all mixed up and thought it was the Daniel Day-Lewis film The Ballad of Jack and Rose. I wondered how in the heck that could be considered medieval times. Sigh. DD-L also did a film titled In the Name of the Father, so I really conflated A LOT OF DD-L MOVIES.

    Yep. Big fan.

    Anyway--the thought of all those steps wore me out. And in 45 minutes! I relate much better to your Seinfeld streaming and love of The Gilded Age. The casting in that show is absolutely wonderful. And wouldn't the actor who plays Oscar make a fantastic Edgar Allan Poe in a biopic?

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    1. Blake Ritson! So tormented, so pale! Yes, please, we need an EAP biopic Stat!

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    2. I'd watch any of the cast in anything!

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  14. So close to your big goal. Way to go! And I have such fond memories of reading Anne of Green Gables books, but have never been to PEI. Enjoy your trip!

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    1. It was so special to reread the book and the descriptions of the landscape, which I imagine are similar to what I'm seeing in NS. I'll be there soon to check it out for myself!

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  15. Omg, I can't wait to tell my bar night crew about you mixing up Lady Hawke and The Name of the Rose, for a couple of reasons 1) our friend Dave loves the movie Lady Hawke and screens it regularly (did you laugh at the hard-rock soundtrack that doesn't match the movie at all, or was that just me?) and 2) our friend Collette constantly makes mix-ups like this.
    I watch each season of The Gilded Age with a friend on Wednesday-night dates, and we love it, but I actually didn't watch Downton Abbey until after we'd finished season two. No idea why I was sleeping on that.

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    1. I want to hang with your bar night crew!

      Sure the soundtrack doesn't fit and yet it does! It really grew on me.

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  16. Enjoy Nova Scotia and PEI. I’ve always wanted to go to PEI because of reading the Anne books.

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  17. Congrats on doing a SECOND stair climb in the same year. I could never!!

    Oh gosh, I hope you love Anne of Green Gables. That story is so precious to me. <3

    I hope you are having the BEST TIME WITH ELISABETH!!!

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    1. I loved the reread and can't wait to go there, except that it means that I have to leave Elisabeth's place. We are having the best time, and I hope that you'll be able to come here.

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  18. I look forward to hearing all about your Nova Scotia trip. I am sure Elisabeth is going to show you the best places, and there will be light houses, of this I am sure.

    the finishing up of the 100 mile trail is so impressive, as is the stair challenge. What a great project for 9/11 remembrance. I cannot for the life of me think of a movie that I confused with another, but I am sure there are many. I did ask Curly tonight if she wanted to watch something and I read the review and when it said it was dumb, but that it had a cult following - she thought that meant that we'd be tempted (?) to join a cult or it was for cult members strictly. I got a good chuckle out of that.

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    1. That's funny about the cult following!

      Lighthouses visits confirmed.

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  19. I am super impressed that you did another stair climbing challenge! Wowza. EIGHTY FLIGHTS. I like your goal of doing six rounds next time.

    Not sure where you are at this very second, but I am SO EXCITED to hear all about NS and PEI and your time with Elisabeth!!!!!

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    1. I am excited to start telling it! It is everything that she said it was and even more.

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  20. I just finished reading Elisabeth's account of your trip to see her. How fun! Looks like you you enjoyed your trip. Happy to reconnect with you here!

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  21. Nice job on the simulated World Trade Center climb! It alerts humbles me seeing the guys in full gear doing the FFA Climb… that’s a tough gig! It also makes me even more appreciative of their commitment to serving others.

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