New York trip

 Revel ride  promo code $20 off YULIYL3587

Telaviv airport summer 2022

On my latest trip across the Atlantic ocean, I was in 6 countries - 7 airports. There were no issues or any problems anywhere except of Tel-Aviv. Being middle east country, they try to keep travel safe, but it just so chaotic and unorganized. You are usually advised to arrive to the airport at least 3 hours early.  You can't check in online and print boarding pass, because they have to check your passport. If you arrive early, it won't help as airline counters open 3 hours before the flight. 

So, when you arrive, first check point is safety interview. There is ONE attendant per queue. You will be questioned about who packed your bag and if you have citizenships of other countries. They only asked me about the bag, but other people where questioned much longer. 

Next you can go to the airline's counter to drop off bags, if you have any and get a boarding pass.

Third lineup or rather big crowd of people is at the entrance to the area where is passports controll and security check. This line moves very slow, attendants take their time. At this point many passengers after or without waiting start to cut the line. Then others  who were in line and  their herds instincts wake up, started to do the same. All the people who are still in line not even moving anymore.

If you make it through this madness, you have to survive one more - passport scan. Same thing, people just pushing and cutting lines everywhere.

The last one was security  check. After 3 hours of queues. I was still far from check up, when I heard final boarding call to my flight and just did the same as everyone else was doing - cut the line. 

When you arrive to the gate that was printed on your boarding pass few hours ago when you checked in, it is probably wrong, so you have to check that and go to a new gate.

I was flying by Ryanair from terminal 1 and my sister was flying by Finnair from terminal 3, but unfortunately we had exact same experience.

Walking to or from the airport to in Bergamo, Italy

Of course  you can use bus for a couple of €, but it is also very walkable.

It is about 4km from train station in Bergamo to the airport terminal.

I spend a day in Bergamo, was packed light and had time, so decided to walk. I used Google maps to get there. First you have to go through the train station tunnel to pass tracks, then it is a trail along the river for quite a bit. Then a sidewalk. You will cross first highway over the bridge and second under the tunnel with some graffiti. There is a small section  maybe 100 meters that you have to walk on a road and last part is around airport runway. 

Half Marathon training plan

Half Marathon training plan

Week	Day 1	Day 2	Sat/Sun
1	4x400	5	10
2	4x800	6.5	13
3	3x1600	8	16
4	6x400	10	10
5	3x1600	6.5	16
6	4x800	13	13
7	6x400	10	16
8	4x1600	13	19
9	3x800	5	10
10	4x400	3	race

Camelbak Eddy

Camelbak water bottle

The only reason I decided to write about it, it is because I couldn't figure out how to use it.    Matei is pretty good with his stuff, so I wanted to get him a water bottle which will last longer than few months (last one barely survived summer). Camelbak products have good reviews, so I picked Camelbak Eddy.
On a way home Amelia ripped the package, so I just had a bottle. When I first filled it up with water, I couldn't drink because valve was completely closed. I had to google  how to use a water bottle.  The trick was to bite it few times to get it to open. Good I read about. Matei liked the way you have to bite valve to drink.

30 days - September

100 ToDo in September

 

1. Pray with kids at night -30 days challenge
2. Read with kids at night -30 days challenge
3. Go to pool 2 times a week - 6 weeks challenge
4. Go to pool with Amelia once a week - 6 weeks challenge
5. Drink only water - 30 days challenge
6. Teach Amelia how to skate

16" Bike

I am looking for a good bike for Amelia for next summer. Looks like there are quite few options for 20" bikes , but not that many for 16". All 16" will be single speed (I haven't find even one which is not). I am trying to avoid coaster brakes, so she can learn hand braking. 16" Trek and Specialized both have coaster brakes and are pretty heavy for a child bike.
Hotrock 16 (19.5 lbs).I also like low handlebar rather than BMX style, but this will be easy to replace.

Here is a list of bikes I like, most sold online only and not all available in Canada.
All have aluminum frame and v-brakes

Spawn Banshee
$450 Cad  
15lb



ISLABIKES
$310 USD
13.2 lbs

Pitboss
14 lbs 6 oz
$379 USD



Dawes
 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ca/en/kids-bikes 
Weight   8.9kg = 19.6lb

cleary bikes

16 lbs
MRSP $ 310.00
(Master mind $250 CAD)

  

Ridgeback bikes

19.5 lbs 

WOOM bikes 
$369.00
16.7 lb 

 

Krank Rook 16" BMX Bike

Budget bike from Canadian Tire 
No coaster breakes
17lb  $119CAD
The good thing  about this bike, you can go and check it at the store. Others have to be ordered online.
 

September 14, 2104 - Lakeside Triathlon

My first Triathlon.
It was a chilly day. With temperature high 15C and water around 20C, but it felt much colder.
Swim: it was short 400m but long enough for my feet to get numb.
Transition 1: I felt dizzy when got out of the water. Even though I practiced to get out of wetsuit, it wasn't easy. On a top of it all pins from bib got opened when I put my shirt on. They didn't stay on even after another attempt to close them, so I just went on with two pins holding bib from the same side.
Bike: it was nice hilly road and this probably helped me to catch up with others after swim. My toes were numb, but it felt good to pass a lot a people.
Transition 2: It went pretty smoothly.
Run: Run was on gravel road, which I didn't mind. I could see how far back I am, as people were turning and running back.

Result

30 days Squat/Push-Up/Plank/Crunch

4 weeks 10K training

This is not a suggested training plan.I put it together for myself, because that how much time I have to get ready for Oakville 10K .

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
cross or 2m	3m	4x400	rest	4m	swim	5m
cross or 2m	3m	5x400	rest	4m	swim	6m
cross or 2m	3m	6x400	rest	5m	swim	7m
cross or 2m	3m	4x400	rest	3m	swim	RACE

30 days challenges

Since New Year, I tried to get new habits or routines, but nothing sticks. I started "clean kitchen in  30 days" 2 weeks ago, but got sick and didn't finish. Then I found this old post about 30 days of exercises. And finally I ran over Matt Cutts blog about different things he tried in 30 days, so I decided to do another try in April.
Since I have a head start with kitchen and exercises.These will be the challenges for April.
And since I signed up to run 10K on April27, I need to stick to training plan. Yes, I know,  I also think it is too much for first 30 days, but lets see how it goes.

April challenges:
1.  Kitchen in 30 days
2.  10K in 4 weeks
3.  30 days squat/push-up/plank/crunch

April 18 update:
#3 is going fine.
#2 I already missed few workouts because of weather or some other excuses.
#1 I had a big head start (few days), but now have to catch up.

Ideas for 30 days challenges 

1. 30 days drink only water
2. 30 days reading every day (professional, self improvement, family)
3. No facebook for 30 days

 

Kitchen

Day 1 :: Do the dishes
Day 2 :: Remove the clutter
Day 3 :: Clean the trash can
Day 4 :: Clean the dishwasher
Day 5 :: Clean and organize the refrigerator door
Day 6 :: Clean and organize the refrigerator
Day 7 :: Clean and organize the freezer
Day 8 :: Clean *often* ignored areas of the refrigerator
Day 9 :: Clean the oven
Day 10 :: Clean your coffee maker
Day 11 :: Clean stove top burners
Day 12 :: Clean the garbage disposal
Day 13 :: Plasticware and storage ware
Day 14 :: Plan with a purpose
Day 15 :: Kitchen drawers
Day 16 :: Cups, mugs, and glasses
Day 17 :: Plates, bowls, and other dishes
Day 18 :: Pots, pans, and bakeware
Day 19 :: Pantry organization
Day 20 :: Clean cutting boards and sharpen knives
Day 21 :: Clean your small appliances
Day 22 :: Check the freshness of your herbs and spices
Day 23 :: Clean under the sink
Day 24 :: Deep clean cabinet doors
Day 25 :: Clean tile and touch up paint on walls
Day 26 :: Deep clean floors
Day 27 :: Detail the kitchen
Day 28 :: Meal plan
Day 29 :: New kitchen supplies
Day 30 :: Rinse and repeat

Bucket list

Fitness Goals
1. 5K - Dec 2013
2. 10K April 2014(0:54)
3. Sprint Tri (super sprint Sep 14, 2014 )
4. 1/2 marathon
5. Olympic Tri
6. Off Road Tri
7. Mountain bike series at Kelso 2014 with kids-2014
8. Marathon
9. Play hockey for a year
10. 1/2 Ironman
11. Great Wall of China
12. Cycling camp

Financial Goals
1. Catch up with RRSP  Dec 2013
2. Setup 10% fund

4. Get vacation property. Pay house by 2020 - not sure i want this anymore
5. Earn 100K a year

Knowledge Goals
1. Learn French


Social & Family Goals
1. Host 6 parties a year
2. Have a trip with a friends

3. Trip without kids

Traveling Goals
1. Mount Senai
2. Trip out of country yearly(excluding Caribean)
3. Camp at Grand Canyon
4. Cruise
5. Mount Elbrus
6. New Zeland
7. Mont Blanc
8. Dubai

ЛІТО 2013

Літо почалось відпочинком на Кубі:

Потім був випускний:

Літо продовжуеться. Один з найкращих тижнів канікул на пластовму таборі Новий Сокіл.

А цього тижня хокей:

2012 year review

The main event of the year was birth of our second child Amelia.

The year started with construction in the house. In about 4 or 5 weeks we had a new living space.

This is what we had before:

 And this what we have now:

Matei learned how to ski.

Hope he will love this sport and will ski/snowboard with me.

Matei spent most of the summer in day camps, which he really liked. Good job for 4 y.o.

We left for Ukraine at the end of November and spent there 2 months.

The main reason for the trip was, to help my parents after car accident, but also good opportunity to see everybody in Ukraine and spend holidays here.
MATEI's Birthday Cake