Discardia time again!

Today starts another season of Discardia - YAY! So I'm working on purging my life, once again, from all the extra clutter and crap that inflicts my life - not just physically, but emotionally as well.

So this weekend I signed up on a website to track my food and calories and exercise so I can lose 15 pounds by the May marathon. I need to get rid of my winter weight. I know it'll make running a LOT easier and I'll feel better about myself as well - which will help mentally. In 2009 when I was 15 pounds lighter than I am now, I was happy, because I felt good and ready to go and as a result the marathon was awesome. I need that.

On the paper side, I spent the morning after church going through my pile of mail from the week, as well as all the extras that had piled up in my basket by my side of the couch. It was good to purge of the excess. I still have more to go through, of course, but it's a great start.

Yesterday, I updated my marathon scrapbook, too, which puts my running in perspective. It's fun to see how I've progressed (or not) throughout the last few years. I only started running in 2007, so it's still new. I'm really thankful MS got me started with the scrapbook. And he's been super supportive this week, riding his bike alongside me as I've been running. He's a lifesaver.

All in all, this will be a good Discardia, I think. It's Spring and Spring cleaning is running rampant in me and I'm excited to make some changes.

The need to learn how to play

Today I saw this picture of my adorable Goddaughter fresh and happy in the midst of playtime. Her mom commented on how they have to pin her hair back now because her bangs are so long they get in the way of her playing.

That statement made me smile. And smile fully. Partly because my Goddaughter is like me in that aspect - I hate having hair on my face. It gets in the way and makes it difficult, if not annoying, to enjoy things fully. It's a nuisance. But the statement made me smile because playing is so important that my Goddaughter has to be prepped for it.

Play time is so essential and I think as adults we forget that. So much of life is work, home work, work, etc., that we forget to play. When was the last time you were on a swing? Or were running with complete abandonment? Phoebe, from Friends, said once about running that it was funnest when you were running from "Satan" (the neighbors dog).

There's that reckless freedom about it, about play time, that I think adults fear. I know I do. I don't have control! I need control! But I'm missing out on some of the best moments in life because of that fear. Why can't I just let go and enjoy each and every moment? How do I find that place deep within myself and let it out?

I need to spend more time with the young people in my life - my nieces, my nephews, my Goddaughter. I know they can teach me. I know I can learn to play...if I can get out of my head long enough to let it happen.

Road trip!

MS and I took a mini road trip yesterday to a nearby city. He had a tax appointment and I wanted/needed to do some shopping. Our road trips tend to be a split between super fun and super revealing, depending on our conversations at the time.

For fun we started things out right. I have such random CDs in my car and so as he was flipping through them he came across Schoolhouse Rock. I grinned and he said, "You want to listen to this?" I said, "At least track 2, 'cuz it's my favorite." Track 2 is "Three is a Magic Number". I love that song. MS just laughed at me as I sang along, bobbing my head in the white-girl way as we drove down the road. :) This started a lot of singing throughout the day. Later we sang "Rawhide" and "Minnie the Moocher" off the Blues Brothers soundtrack. And we had a little "Cumbia De Los Muertos" by Ozomatli from the Never Been Kissed soundtrack. I think by that point MS thought I was losing it.

We also talked about travel...again. I really do love to travel; MS does not. But we talked about places I want to go, places he wants to go. I think we'll get to a compromise but we're still working on it. There are so many places I still want to see in this world - Ireland, Australia, London (again), Paris (briefly), Rome, and even places in the states. MS has traveled a lot already in his life so he's good to just stay home. But I think he understands my need to get away when I said, "I can't go through my life with just going to work, then home, then work, then home, then work, then home. It's too much. I need more."

We're getting there. Our trip was great though. MS got his taxes done, I got my necessary shopping done, MS got some new kicks and I oogled over the tiny Chucks for toddlers. :) Tonight, is date night. I'm really excited for this one. :)

A little luck o' the Irish, a little God, and Pi(e)

Yesterday was the Irishman races in our town. There were a few of my co-workers who signed up for the 5K as the team challenge. I, stupidly, signed up for all 3 as I have in the past. But calling the races an Irishman confused a few who hadn't run before, thinking it was just the one 5K race. A little education was given. :)

Anyway, I was actually psyched for these races. Normally they're fun and while I haven't been running as much as I'd like, I felt like I could do these fairly well. That was until...I woke up to find 25 mph winds from the WNW which was the main direction we were running for all 3 races. Ugh. I can handle the cold but I hate...hate...hate the wind. Suddenly I toyed with not running and I'm not usually one to back out of races. Hell, in 2009 I even attempted a marathon though my knee had been killing me (I stopped at 13.1) and last year I even ran the full half when I had horrible chest congestion and ended up sick for 2 weeks after. I just don't Not Go to races.

So I continued to psych myself up and decided to not worry about time, but just to finish. I got to run with a few friends Tom, Tom and Sara, and saw a few other runners from the area which was fun.

After the first 5mile race, we went to the local tavern for a free Guinness, as is tradition for these races. I normally don't go in between races because it's my time to recoup, but I went yesterday. I was glad I did! Not only did I get a Guinness but I got to keep the glass! And both were free! YAY! That made the wind and weather all the more worthwhile.

The 5K was colder than the 5mile and the 1 mile even colder than both. I relished the 90 minutes between the 5K and 1 mile...I sat in my car and read! I got time to just sit and read!! (plus I got to catch the end of Wait, Wait...which I always miss). But the time to just sit and read was so wonderful! I forgot how much I love that! I haven't had much time to just sit and read as I used to...Oh how I miss it.

After the races I came home and had a long, hot shower and ate half a pizza. I was so hungry and so excited to just relax on the couch. That's the true reward after running...and something to keep me running.

Today MS is working, so I'm on my own. I went to my old church, that being the one I used to go to on a regular basis when I lived on my own. Big O had a great sermon and one I needed to hear. I am a baptized child of God. I am saved. I am loved. I am blessed. Oh how I needed to hear that. I wanted to chat with Big O a bit more but he had a line up of little old ladies who wanted to talk to him too, so I'll have to set up a time to meet with him later.

Then I went to Target and the grocery store as I used to after church. Then home to relax, study, read, and make an apple pie for Pi Day tomorrow. Plus I have apples that need to be baked. :) It's a good day.

Fat Tuesday

I have never understood the point of pancakes on Fat Tuesday for Mardi Gras. Maybe someone can explain that to me. Of course, I also have never understood the "giving up" tradition of Lent. My SIL is giving up FB for Lent. Another friend is giving up chocolate. Another Chipotle.*

Granted I agreed to do a 15lbs of Lent with a friend from Seminary on FB. We're tracking our weight loss from March 9 until Easter (April 24). That's a good 40 days to work on losing weight and getting in shape. JG hooked me up with a good workout, and my goal is to do that daily and get back to a good habit.

Part of that goal, or Lenten discipline as it were, is to learn and understand that the gift God gave me of my body is to be treasured and adored. I often ...hate is a bad word... really dislike my body. But the truth it, I haven't been treating it well and it deserves better.

Another Lenten discipline is for me to really appreciate life. I bought a gratitude journal after I read Andrea had gotten one too. I really like it and I need to be reminding myself that life is good and show my gratitude for it.

I want my Lenten journey to be just that - a journey. A journey into my inner self where I can learn more about me and what makes me happy. A journey with my outer self where I can strengthen my body so I can physically handle anything that comes my way. I have some lofty goals for running this year, and I need a strong body to do this.

I know I can do this. I can be a strong, confident woman, so help me God.

*Update- I'm not saying any of these things are bad. They aren't. I need to find another option - adding to my life instead of removing. :) That's just me.

Better

Today was a much better day. I was impressed that I got up at 4:17 again and made it to the gym by 5...they actually had to open it up for me. Ha! I got in 4 good miles, and while slow, they felt pretty good. I got to run in the dark because the guys, while making fun of me, finally realized that it isn't so bad to workout in the dark - cooler, TVs show up better, and you don't have to see how sweaty and rough others look. :)

It's now 8:30 pm and I've been up for 16 hours and I'm still pretty alert. It's so weird. I don't know why I'm not tired, but I'm not. It's strange how adrenaline works.

I also got "attempt #2" from my trainer. It's much more scaled down for a training plan but still will help me get stronger for the marathon. I also checked on my marathon in May and I do have the option to switch to the half up to 3 weeks prior, so I'm going to see how the training goes the next 8 weeks and then make a decision. MS is all excited that i can do a half, but I don't want to discount the possibility of a full just yet.

And I signed up for the Irishman again - 5Mile, 5K and 1Mile all in one day. I was just going to run the 5Mile but there's a group getting together at work to run the 5K and if I'm going to do both I might as well run the last one too. Bragging rights are good.

So today was a good day. But I probably should be going to bed so I can get some sleep before I get up for another run and a day of fun.

A running post, for lack of a better title

I know I usually put these posts on my other blog, the running one (or the top secret one), that is, but today it's not just about running. Well, that's the basis for why I'm writing but there's more to it than that. And since I'm at work, I'm going to hope I can get through this quickly and easily.

I read a blog post today about self-confidence. This is one huge area where I'm lacking. I lack self-confidence, not just in running but in life in general. But we'll get to that in a moment.

I lack S-C (as we'll call it) in running because I just wonder sometimes if I can even do it. I know I can run and I make it through races well enough, but not great enough. I often feel slow, sluggish, Clydesdale-ish (in fact, for some races, because of my weight, I would actually be put into a category called this). I try to lose weight but I struggle with that, which causes my S-C to drop even more. I can feel the fat rolls over my pants while I sit at work. So I sleep lying flat on my back because I know that at least the fat I "feel" is smooth and flat (though I also subconsciously know it's all flopping on the bed under me instead).

I thought, once, that running would help my S-C. Which maybe is why I keep forcing myself to run marathons. Those aren't something "normal" people do. I'm told a few times a month that I'm crazy for running them, but I'm desperately trying to find something to raise my S-C to a level where I'll be comfortable with myself. So I continue to sign up for them.

Of course, then I'm stupid and I sign up for a marathon in May (which I'm pretty sure I vowed not to do ever again after the 2009 incident with my knee). And not only did I sign up for a marathon, but also a challenge where you run a 5K the night before and the marathon the next day (3 medals!). MS made the comment last night that he wishes I was into half marathons more than fulls. Which makes me wonder if, once again, my thinking has been so skewed that I can't see past my nose. I don't know.

I can't seem to figure out what works best for me. I'm a workaholic so ditching work to run isn't an option (though I've tried that a few times). I'm not really a morning person but lately that seems to be the only time to run, though it requires a dreadmill which makes me annoyed. I'd love to run on the bike trails at night but that takes away from my already limited time with MS. But maybe that later option is what needs to happen, at least for the next few months. I don't know. I'm very conflicted, which doesn't help my S-C.

And that confliction and low S-C is hampering the rest of my life as well. I'm constantly second-guessing my decisions and thought processes. And those decisions, if I even make them, are difficult to make to begin. I've never been a great decision maker, but low S-C isn't helping when I do.

How do I find this S-C? Where can one get it? What can I do? I don't know anymore. I keep trying new things, buying books to read to help, but I don't have time to read as I'm working on an online class for work, have a couple other online classes I need to do for work, am knitting a blanket (sanity fix), and trying to get my runs in for marathon training.

I'm a wee bit lost.

Hired

I spoke with my former trainer from long ago this week and he's agreed to help me with a training plan for my marathon coming up. I'm excited for this, despite that the plan is pretty intensive. I'm going to have to get to bed earlier and get up earlier so I have time to get everything in. For the most part it's only Wednesday mornings that will be really early, but Friday is a little long too. It'll be good. I just have to do it. Right?

Over stimulated

The alarm went off at 4:43 this morning, jerking me awake from my deep slumber. I snoozed once and got up 5 minutes later at 4:48. I then was out the door shortly after 5, at the gym at 5:30 and on the dreadmill at 5:35. I had 2 minutes of peaceful bliss - the lower lights on in the main part of the gym, but the lights by the treadmills off, one tv on silent but with closed captioning and no one else around.

*sigh of utter contentment*

Then a guy showed up and turned on the radio - loud - then came up stairs and turned on the lights - bright - then turned on another tv - too much too look at! - and then started another treadmill - louder.

My zen was broken. And by 6 we had a whole party of people running or ellipitcating or biking. By 6:15 I was d.u.n. done. I didn't get the full run in I should have, but I got more in and was calmer than I was yesterday ("I'm calmer than you are.").

Yesterday I ran around 1:30 pm. I thought maybe I could have some zen because most people run at noon. Apparently I'm wrong in this. The dreadmills were packed at 1:30 and by 1:50 I couldn't focus at all. It's amazing to me that I have trouble focusing with that many people running next to me and the 4 tvs on in front of me and the radio blaring, but I'm okay with focusing (until I hit the wall) during a marathon where there's the same, if not maybe more, stimulation all around me. Maybe it's because it's so condensed and closed in at the gym that it throws me off.

MS and I had talked about me getting use of my iPod again to help motivate me on the dreadmill. I thought about that this morning but I think maybe earplugs and blinders would be better.

Celebrating the president's

MS and I both had 4 days off at the same time for once. This is a rarity in our world, so I was excited we could take advantage of it.

Sadly, I was sick all last week and with MS's low white blood cell count, that meant no kissing at ALL...still...until I'm better.

But we still had a nice weekend. I went home early from work on Friday so I could rest. I got the joy of watching the Corey's in License to Drive, a "cheesy 80s flick" from ago. And I rested. Saturday MS and I vegged for a bit and then went into town to see "I Am Number Four" which turned out to be a great movie (at least in my perspective).

Sunday we planned to go to church to meet up with Wayne as he started at our town's church this weekend, but the weather had turned icy icy icy so we stayed home and rested some more. I was slowly getting better and MS was great at forcing fruit and liquids down my throat so I could get better. He was wonderful, taking care of me and helping me to get better.

Monday we decided we should clean the house. I was feeling a little better and what better time to get rid of germs than when I'm getting over a cold. And, wow!, our house was dirtier than I thought. So this was a good thing despite my loathing of cleaning. But the house smelled nice and fresh once again.

Tuesday we parted briefly to run some errands. I had a lunch date with the girls and had to run into work to complete a document that Boss1 needed to sign this morning. Then we went out to dinner (two dates in 4 days- wow!) and to a county commissioner meeting regarding a development near where we live (long story).

Funny enough, we spent most of the weekend indoors, watching movies, or working on our projects online (he's doing an online scrapbook - and, well...I was sick so I played Bejeweled), and it was wonderful. We rarely just sit and veg - unless we're sick. And to be able to do that together (while I was the only one sick) was nice.

It reminded me just how lucky I am to be with MS and how wonderful he is for me. That's a good reminder to have.

Happy 6th Anniversary!

Six years ago today, I started this blog because of J-man. It's all his fault. Of course it's not his fault that I haven't written lately. I just haven't had much to say. I've been sick this past week...you'd think that'd supply all sorts of fodder, but snot and more snot does not a happy blog post make.

Hopefully I'll get back into a routine of writing again. It's been difficult but I'm working on it. I do miss writing. I've been feeling uncreative.

I tend to repeat myself

So as I started typing in several options for a title for this post I found that I have used most of them before, a few times in fact since a few of them had 1's or 2's or "again" after them.

I guess I repeat myself. Oh well.

The past week was busy but really good. Have I mentioned lately how much I love my job? I really do. I had to work the weekend of the 5th but it went much better than I thought it would.

MS and I finished up the weekend and went to his friends' for the Super Bowl. I stood with K and cheered for the Steelers, while everyone else was cheering for the Packers. It was disturbing, though, to watch MS cheer for the Packers while wearing his Vikings jersey (and his Favre Vikings jersey at that). Alas, the Steelers lost, but I enjoyed watching the game.

But then Monday brought the next segment of workdays - five more to go til the weekend. I got a run in that day which was great, though on the treadmill, and got to see my nephew play some bas-foot-ketball. He was on the floor more often than not. It was pretty cute though as his 3-yr-old cousin Noah was there who repeated everything I said. Hearing, "Get in the game, Zach!" from an adorable little voice was almost too much. :)

The rest of the week was good, though by Friday I was ready to be d.u.n. done. And since I had to work a bit this past Monday, I left early and came home to enjoy the evening.

Saturday MS and I went shopping and out to eat. Then came home for me to study and he worked on his second online-scrapbook (he's using mixbook.com). Sunday he spent the afternoon with his Mom and I went for a run (warm weather!). Of course the shock to my system made me nauseated and so by the time MS got home I was on the couch trying to settle my stomach and get rid of my headache. MS made dinner for us and it was delicious! A nice way to end the weekend.

Monday, v-day, was just another day. I had to go into work for a couple hours and MS had to work all day. I got another run in and went to another bas-foot-ketball game with Mom.

But since all of that, I've been sick. Woke up Tuesday morning after a freaky dream with a really sore throat and sinus crap. It sort of went away today, but then my head decided to fill up with cotton (I'm a cotton-headed ninny-muggins) and drip out my nose. I sneeze every 15 minutes and blow my nose every 10. I'm so ready for this to be over. :( I want to run!!! But until I'm better, I'm not going to risk it...even though the weather is wonderful.

LIke a long running hot air balloon

I had to use this explanation for MS tonight. But let me back up for a moment.

One - I'm not an extrovert like so many people think. I can play the part well, but it's not who I really am. I'm good with being alone. Occasionally, I like going out with people. But I'm better one-on-one.

This week has been intense. It's been good - I've gotten a lot accomplished at work, had some great comments from Boss1 during my appraisal for the last year. Projects are getting tied up and work is feeling pretty good.

But it's been BUSY. Super busy. And last night as I was driving home, I felt myself unwinding - not necessarily in a good way. I started to cry a bit, just releasing pent up energy, and so when I got home, because I know my crying disturbs MS a bit, I shut down. I sat on the couch and tried to regroup my thoughts. I ended up in an almost catatonic state - totally zoned. That was, until, I got up for dinner (which MS made so lovingly). I sat down in front of my bowl of soup and the tears just started falling. MS got worried and wondered what was wrong. "Nothing," I said. "I'm just tired." He didn't understand and I didn't know how to explain it.

So tonight, on the way home, I tried to come up with a way to explain why I fell apart a bit and why I was asleep at 7:30. Basically, I'm like a hot air balloon that had been up for 3-days straight - hot air continually blowing in it to keep it moving and upright. And then suddenly, the air was shut off and everything deflated. I was deflated...and everything I had been holding in was let out.

Funny enough, that made sense to MS and he appreciated the insight. I don't often understand why I am the way I am, but sometimes I just know that I have to shut down to recharge. And I'm better today, which is what matters.

So much yummy goodness!!

And I forgot to get pictures. Well I got a few but they didn't turn out as well as I had hoped.

I have a bunch of stuff to update, but I'm tired so you'll have to wait until tomorrow. Maybe I'll have some pictures for you. :)

Home - Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros Acoustic Cover (Jorge & Alex...

I love Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros song "Home" anyway, but this is a great, sweet cover. :)

Needed a nap

The last couple of days have been crazy busy. I got a lot accomplished, a lot of taskers added to my list, a lot of time spent away from my home, and somehow I have survived.

Thursday was a good day, getting to wear jeans to work for the day, which was awesome. My co-worker Deaner and I were trying to figure out a way we could negotiate for jeans every day of the week. We figured if we could prove more productivity we might have a shot. :)

That night I had a meeting for our volunteer conference. We have a conference in a couple of months, hopefully (we haven't gotten final approval from our supervisor who's dragging his feet), and somehow I ended up on the committee. I also got stuck on the scavenger hunt committee portion because I had a 'good idea'. I'm getting to work with some other gal who I have never met. Should be interesting. But the meeting ran long so I didn't get home until 8:30 and we all know I go to bed around that time. I did stay up until 10 since David Tutera was on WeTV and I'm minutely obsessed with him. :)

Friday was a busier than crap day. We had VIPs coming in the afternoon and so with the planning for their visit on top of trying to finish up a bunch of work and meetings I had, the day was crazy. The VIP meeting went late (another 8pm night), so I went to bed almost right away again. Don't get me wrong, the night was awesome. Our VIP meeting went really well and the cookies I bought for the event went over well...with the 3 people who each had one. I sent the rest to work with MS today so I wouldn't be tempted. Though a cookie sounds really good right now. Hmmm

So today we get up for the start of Week 4 of P90X - Yoga X. Joy. 90 minutes of fun. It went okay, but when we finished, I was tired, zenned out and chilly. So I curled up on the couch and fell asleep. I woke up briefly when MS kissed my forehead goodbye, but ended up sleeping for the 90 minutes I had to do Yoga. I felt better after that but I do remember MS asking me why I was tired.

Basically, I was overwhelmed with everything. MS even said that Friday night when I realized that I had forgotten my house keys at work. "You seem overwhelmed," he said. Uh, yes! I am, was. It's not that my job is bad...I love what I do. The rough part of it is that I don't have one job, or even two parts of a job. I have 18. There are so many little things that I have to do that they all pile up and I get overwhelmed. Add all that up with the fact that I had to have two days of extra extravertedness, and I needed a break. My brain was full; my body was exhausted from having to "be on" for so much, so often, so recently, and so close together.

The nap was good. Then I went into work and spent some great quiet time, with no one around, cleaning up my desk. Those are my favorite days. Then homemade pizza for dinner and a little knitting to tie it all up.

Lacking consistency

How is it that one week at work I'll be super productive, getting taskers completed left and right without issue. And then the next week, I'll be so unmotivated it's all I can do to keep awake? What's the trick? I know people who are always on task, really good at getting things accomplished and keep going all the time.

And here I am, trying to find a surge to get me going (which may come around the time it's time to go home - which is typical...5:30 comes around and I'm finally ready to work...only to hear the heat shut off and 5 minutes later it's colder in the office than it should be and I can't feel my fingers to even type 'help').

I don't know. But I'm open to suggestion. For now, I'll keep looking for the surge.

I have this idea...

...that I could be a chic, cool woman, one who dresses good and is really put together. I have this dream that I could be this person. And yet, I see that I am currently sitting on my couch, in sweats that have a rip in the seam (I won't say where), a sweatshirt, and my hair in a pathetic looking ponytail having done 90 minutes of yoga and killing time until I go for my 5mi run. How can I be chic and put together? Because I know that even after I get my run in and shower and get cleaned up, I'll still be in jeans and a t-shirt and hair probably back in a ponytail.

I used want to be a girl who wore dresses. I used to hope that I could pull that look off. And maybe I could, but I haven't gotten there yet and I wonder if I ever will. I live in hickville. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, I love my man, but this place doesn't feel like a place where I could walk around on a Saturday in a dress shopping without people asking me if I'm heading to a funeral or wedding. It's weird.

But for now, i'd just like to be "put together" and more than a slug on the couch.

The perfect dream...until I woke up

MS and I have been getting up between 4 and 4:30 lately to do P90X before I have to go to work in the AM. Usually we can sleep til 4:30 or even 4:40 and still get it all accomplished, but 3 days a week we have to start AT 4:30 or we won't even get finished.

Today was one of those days (Yoga - 90 minutes of 'fun').

But then I had the best dream EVER!! I dreamt that my alarm didn't go off until 4:39. I looked at my clock and did some quick math, realizing that if I got up to do Yoga we wouldn't get started until about 4:45 and wouldn't finish until 6:15. Which would make me late for work (shower, dress, drive to work...not enough time). SO I had to reset the alarm and go back to sleep for an hour. HAD to.

Then my real alarm went off and it was 4:11 summoning me from my warm slumber.

*sigh*

Life is Good

Life is good. You know, seriously! Life is good! I'm really happy. Despite the oddness and the weirdness and the crapiness of parts, overall Life is Good. We are truly blessed. I know sometimes it's really hard to see that, but we are. I keep reminding myself of the great things that are in my life - MS, my family - including K&E and Nika, my friends - and I realize that even when all the shit hits the fan, life is still good.

I'm a little overwhelmed right now...going back and forth between annoyed that I have to do 5 online courses in the next couple days, plus another longer version due by April, ALL the additional duties I have at work that keep adding up...and yet I flip back to how wonderful my BF is and how he takes care of me when I can't, how fabulous my friends are and how my life is fuller because of them, and how good life is a whole. I'm here, I'm alive, and Life is Good.

Weird day

Seriously...today was really weird. First I woke up from a strange dream with both of my bosses and something about calendars. Strangeness. Then I missed part of my workout because I didn't time it right. I ate chicken for breakfast. Not the egg...but chicken. That was at 7:15 and I didn't eat anything again until 1:20. Uffda.

I don't know what's going on. I was snarky, bitter and just off...but at the same time I was in a really good mood. The snarkiness and bitterness wasn't physical or even really mental, I just had some major comments coming out of my mouth an dI didn't really know where they came from. It was weird. I don't know what's going on...unless...

Unless it's the fact that my carb intake has been incredibly low the last few days. My calorie intake has been really low too...not horribly so - I've been around 1200 the last few days, but that's from a week or so ago when I was probably around 2000 (or even higher). So it's no wonder I'm weird.

I don't know. One more week and then I can have carbs again - real carbs like bread...oh sweet bread, I long for you this very moment.

Back to the Grind

First, a shout-out to Kat! Hi hon!

Today went pretty well. MS and I got up at 4:15am to do Yoga X (of P90X program). Last night he thought I was kidding when I told him what time we needed to get up, and when I rolled out of bed at 4:15 he really thought I was joking. But he joined me for the 90 minute program and even scrambled me some eggs to take to work for breakfast. My God, I'm lucky to have him. :)

And even though I was up before the crack of dawn, I was really alert today. I got a few things accomplished, then stayed an extra hour to really get things put together. I set up one of my file drawers last week in a better, more organized fashion so I can find stuff easier for the multiple things I have to do. Today I added to it with a final file of Taskers with files for each day of the week. Then I had a blank tasker list created so I could write down what I need to do the next day. Once tomorrow's file was set up (with no more than 7 items) I tabbed the various items and then left it right by my phone for me tomorrow morning. Here's hoping this will work.

Now I'm home and should be making some eggs, but my silicone muffin cups are getting washed in the dishwasher right now, so I'll probably just scramble again in the AM.

I signed up for a class for work yesterday and I'm wondering if it was smart. It's a deep and dry subject, but I know it'll help me in the future (if not sooner). I'm just dreading it a bit. I'll have to get my note paper ready so I can take some serious notes. I have to pass it or I have to start the whole damn thing over from the beginning. It's essential I do well. (Not that I'm competitive with myself or anything).

MS is working again tonight. I miss him. I probably should have worked longer. But the good news is I have to go to bed soon anyway. I'm such an old fart. :)

Last low-key day for awhile

Granted, we're still in the middle of holiday season (MLK Jr day is coming up, then President's Day to end it for a couple months) but today is my last day of low-keyness. Honestly, I'm ready to get back to work. It's been nice being home, but I keep thinking of things I could be doing at the office, the workload that awaits me, and in general just getting out of the house for awhile.

of course, I also know that in a few days I'll be wishing I had a day off again. :) And since I have to work this coming weekend, that will be evermore true.

But today has been nice. I got the oil changed in Morty, picked up some milk, and have been relaxing with MS. He's studying for a class he has this week for work, so I've been lounging on the couch, reading a bit, playing on the computer, signing up for a class of my own for work, and vegging. We're not talking a whole lot, but it's nice to know that he's here. That perks up my attitude immensely. Yesterday was rough, and I'm sure coupled with a poor diet yesterday and being incredibly sore from the beginnings of P90X, it all magnified in the fact I didn't get to see my boy all day. I've gotten used to him being around, you know? And I like that. We don't have to talk. We don't have to be right by each other, but in the same room, just doing our thing has been really nice today.

It's getting close to time to make dinner - Chicken with bruchetta topping which he loves and I can eat - and we'll see how long he's going to study. I still need to burn two discs, and then I can move on with my life. hahaha Tomorrow morning's another early one with a 90-minute yoga set for P90X and I have to be at work, ready to go by 6:45. Uffda. I may have to try what I've been meaning to do for a long time and do the yoga, then drive to work and go into the gym to do a few situps/pushups, then shower. Then I can be at work at 7:15 instead. That MIGHT work...I've struggled with that in the past. Maybe tomorrow is time to renew it.

Sucked in

Okay, so somehow I ended up watching David Tutera on My Fair Wedding (WeTV) and then Rich Bride Poor Bride. I've never understood the concept of "theme" weddings like David has on his show. One bride had a Greek theme, another BLING. It's just odd. So if MS and I get married should we have a popcorn and ice cream theme? Or military theme for his Navy years? Or a cleanliness theme - everyone gets a dust broom as a wedding favor... ha!

And this bride on RBPB is just pissing me off. She is being such a bitch and so rude to her wedding planner. She wants glam, but she doesn't have the budget for it, but she doesn't believe in the budget side of it.

All the more, watching this that is, I just don't get it. Maybe MS's thought of shorts and a lightweight shirt is a good idea. I don't know. Of course, that's a LONG ways off since I haven't met MS's friends all yet. :)

It's...the Blob!!!

I feel pathetic! Yes, I did Cardio X this morning, but since then I've been half-assing the day. I have laundry in, I shoveled off the deck, and I've worked a bit on those things-that-shall-not-be-named, both upstairs and downstairs; but I feel like a total blob today.

I'm not sure if it's because I don't feel like I've accomplished much. MS is always good when he's home at getting things done. This has been my 4-day, like he has, and he's so much better at being productive than I am. That worries me. What's wrong with me?

Starting off right

After a nice, lazy morning, MS and I went to the dreaded basement to sort through some of our boxes. He has boxes from when he moved in to the house in '08 and I have all of mine. Those things-that-shall-not-be-named weren't too bad. Mostly I tried to sort out what was in what, so I could get all my CDs (oodles!) in one area, books in another, kitchen stuff, and miscellaneous crap (of which I have a lot), so that when I am really motivated, I can actually go through those ttsnbn's and be more successful.

MS needs to sort some of his stuff too. He has a goodly amount of stuff of his own and his dad's to sort through. Once we get the shop built we'll be able to put more of our official storage stuff out there, and have less in the basement for when we finish that.

That was one of the fun parts this afternoon - we talked through designs for the basement and how to set up the main room and bedrooms. It was neat to pull out the blueprints and talk out his vision and mine and see if we can make them mesh. He has some great ideas for down there and I'm excited to see how they turn out. I love that he's open to my suggestions too, and that he has been willing to alter some of his original plans to fit some things I would like. Love, baby...it's real. :)

So now, I'm watching the Rose Bowl. I'm not a big college football fan, nor football in general - though I do enjoy a good game from time to time. I'm just not an avid watcher. But TCU (Go Horned Frogs, Go TCU!) is playing Wisconsin (go bucky) and so I feel slightly compelled to watch. If nothing else, it gives me a little fodder to talk about at work, or with E&K at least. MS is out snowblowing the driveway from the mess we had yesterday. I haven't learned how to run the blower yet, so it kind of falls on him. I feel bad about it. I'll learn soon.

MS and I also started P90X today...part of our goal to drop some weight and get back into decent shape. To quote a friend of mine from high school, "We want to be hot for each other." And I've been on SoBe again, which has been going pretty well. I'm feeling pretty good and not overindulging in sugar-free candy. I did have a fudgepop (no sugar added) last night, which was good. So I'm still getting my chocolate fix, if need be.

You know, this has been a really great start to the new year. I'm excited about 2011. It's going to be good, I can feel it. :)

Ending 2010

2010 has been an incredible year - full of changes and surprises. But for fun, here's a recap from the year:

January - MS and I went to Hawaii for a work trip for me and a vacation for MS. It was my first time there, but MS had been stationed there when he was in the Navy, so he became my tour guide. Once I got over my workaholic-ness, I was able to relax and enjoy the area. My favorite was Bellows Beach. LOVED that place and really want to go back.

February - MS and I started P90X to try to lose the weight after Hawaii. For 4 weeks we were very dedicated. It was great!

March - I ran the Irishman again and then did a speed drive two and half hours away to receive an award for work. I literally walked in 3 minutes before the banquet began. Pretty fun.

April - OOB came home to visit which was great. MS and I hosted our first Easter dinner for OOB, and the mom's. It all turned out well, I think. MS and I celebrated our 1st anniversary and I was back running on a regular basis.

May - This was a full month! KC and I hosted our first soon-to-be-annual spring party at work and it turned out great. MS and I took our last trip to Sconnie to see Nika before they moved. I picked up a cold or something that MS had picked up right before we had gone to Sconnie which made for a rough Half Marathon a week later. I was sick for two more weeks which was awful. MS and I took in the free fishing weekend and went to a couple different places. We also started our garden, a massive undertaking, but with what we hoped would be fruitful rewards.

June and July are kind of a blur...not a lot happened...just a lot of work and stuff. OH wait...HHS was in June which is why I was going slowly insane the months leading up to it. July was recovery month.

August - This was a good month. I was selected to go to a training for work, which was great. MS reminded me several times how wonderful he is and how lucky I am to have him in my life.

September - This was canning month. We had a bunch of stuff from the garden just sitting around so we met up with MS's aunt and uncle and had a day of canning salsa. We also made two apple pies using my crust recipe from memory. They turned out really well. This was also my last month before TCM. I ran the SF Half, which was rough, but I made it.

October - TCM number 4. Thank God for MS. He biked along side me the last 20 miles. Yes, I said 20 miles. He was so wonderful. He kept me moving. He supported me every step. So much love!

November - I moved in with MS! This was good on so many levels. We're moving forward in our relationship, I get to spend all my extra time with him, and I'm living in ONE place! Sanity is mine! :) We've had some growing pains, but it's been great. He had to work on Thanksgiving Day so we celebrated with my fam the next day at YOB's.

December - Christmas month! B-day month for MS! I also had an impromptu trip to Mississippi for a week. MS's mom had a mini stroke so he spent that week in the hospital with her helping her do her physical therapy and get better. MS spoiled me at Christmas again. And now it's New Years Eve and MS is working so I'm cleaning the house.

It's been a full year and I'm really looking forward to 2011. It'll be great!

Christmas!

I don't have many pictures, and some are on MS's camera so I'll have to post those later. Christmas yesterday was nice, though confusing at times. Long story on that.

MS and I had a great Christmas together. We took turns opening gifts, had some pizza and curled up on the couch, falling asleep for a mini nap. Then we went over to his mom's so she could open her gift and hung out with her while her live-in boyfriend went to his family's house. Then back home for more pizza (we're cleaning out our freezer) and then sleep. Low-key but fun day.

MS got me some awesome gifts: A Boyd's Bears "Sweetie Pie" figurine, a jewelry box with my name engraved, necklace, earrings, pajama pants, stuff for my car, a 4-cup liquid measuring cup, dry measuring cups and utensils, a food processor, and a Kettleball set.

I got MS the Clint Eastwood 35 films in 35 years set, two other DVDs with Clint westerns from other production companies, 100ft measuring tape, a bunch of tool stuff he picked out, Cool Feet for his computer, winning lottery tickets (I hope they're winning ones), and some Home Depot gift cards. And then I got us both a gardening chair and tool bag to use next summer. He's spoiled. ;) But he spoils me, so it's a fair trade.

Nika got us a beautiful picture frame for her adorable photos, with her named engraved on it. I swapped out her photos from my old frame to the one she sent last night. I love it! Thanks, Nika! :)

Life is good. As my niece Ava kept reminding us today, "Christmas is about giving!" And it is. I had fun giving what I did to MS. And I think he had fun giving me what he did. I'm a very lucky girl to have him in my life.

Jesus is coming!

And to be the sick individual I am I'm going to add, so to speak, just to be me.

But Jesus is coming and I'm very excited for that. It's MS and my first Christmas living together. It's been a challenge to buy and wrap gifts without each other knowing...well, especially for me since he has more time off during December than I do.

His mom is home now. She went home tonight which is good. It's amazing how much better she has gotten in just the last week with therapy every day throughout the day. I hope she continues to do it at home. She's opting not to have a nurse come in each day, mostly because of cost, but also saying she has a bike and stuff she can do at home. I'm praying she does it, because the stronger she gets and the more she continues her therapy the longer she can stay at home, which is where she wants to be.

Work has been annoying the last couple days, with me coming home and letting go of some steam to MS. He's had a rough few days with his Mom's stuff and her live-in S.O. Last night we had his friends over for dinner and to fix his computer. We ended up playing a board game, "You Might Be a Redneck if..." (Yes, we play these games in this state.) I had to laugh as I won the game and I'm probably the least Redneck of the 4 of us. :) Oh well.

It was funny, though. MS and I had been chatting on the phone while driving home (separate cars, but arriving at almost the same time) and at one point, mid-vent, he started laughing and said, "We're having a drink when we get home tonight." I laughed and said, "Oh yes, we are!" But then when Alison and Mike came over, they only wanted Diet Mt Dew, but I said, "Do I still get my drink?" MS said, Hell yeah, and so probably the first time ever, MS and I were drinking while Mike & Alison weren't. :)

Today was our work Christmas party. We've been having a cribbage tournament the last couple of weeks. I've become a legend by holding up the game for a week since I was gone last week. And then Monday, the guy I was supposed to play had to go home to take care of his kid. So yesterday I played 3 games in 2 hours and won 2, lost 1. Now I'm in the loser's bracket but it's double elimination. The second guy I beat, I actually Skunked. I heard from a few people that he was walking around with his head held in shame. One person told me, "I didn't know she knew how to play! I thought it was going to be an easy win!" Ha Ha! But then today I had to play the first guy I had beat, and I beat him again, almost Skunking him, but I let him get one more point to save face. But the tournament continues...the next guy I have to play had left for the day so it'll have to be next week. Should be fun.

And now, I'm sitting trying to regroup, but ready for bed. MS is working but tomorrow we're going to spend all day together, running last minute errands and just taking some time for us. Most of life has been swamped with work and his Mom, as of late, so having a day just to ourselves will be nice.

And Jesus is coming soon, and there's nothing more I'm thankful for. God bless you all. :)

Wow!

I can't believe it's already December 18. The month has flown by and I have no idea where it went.

The month started out great with a "Leadership Challenge Course". It was great. We had completed a series of personal assessments (like Myers Briggs, etc.) prior to the course so we received a bunch of results back. They were extremely interesting. I learned a lot about myself; I only wish we could have had my bosses take them too, so I could understand them better.

Then it was our work weekend and KC and I put together a Christmas Party for our sections. It turned out to be a good time, though I was exhausted afterword. We also had a Kids' Christmas party. KC had created this theme too...Christmas Around the World. We had tables with different countries represented where the kids and parents could go around and learn about their customs. We also had Santa show up and had our pictures taken. Mine and MS's didn't turn out all that great, or I'd post it here. Well, I might post it later. We'll see how the month goes. :)

The next week was a blur...lots of work and trying to get things ready for me being gone this week. MS had his birthday too, but sadly I ended up working more that day than I wanted. So his birthday ended up pretty quiet. I had already got him his gift back at the end of September - he wanted a scope for his rifle. So he got that for b-day and Xmas, which is fine since this month has been crazy, though some of the fun was gone for his day.

Last Saturday we had snow...and wind...and a mini-blizzard, so we were pretty much trapped at home. This was okay by me. I got to finally finish my project while MS worked on some of his own projects. I was so very thankful to have it finished. What a pain. I will NOT be doing that again next year.

Sunday was a little scary. MS's Mom had a mini stroke so we spent the day at the hospital with her. She's actually still there because she was really weak so she's been going through physical therapy to get stronger. Hopefully she'll be going home before Christmas. MS has been spending his afternoons with her helping her with her PT. Luckily, he's had extra time off this week.

But then I had to pack and get ready for my trip. I went to Mississippi for a training for work this week. It was good, though it was more of a training-the-trainer course so I can train the people I work with on what I learned.

And now I'm home. KC and I made peanut brittle and some more vanilla today. We're too efficient though. It took a lot less time than we thought and we couldn't figure out a good third project so she went back home. So I'm just waiting for MS to come home from the hospital while I watch Psych from this week.

Life is good, you know? I'm pretty blessed.

Learning to be a leader

My bosses signed me up for a Leadership Challenge Program that's in town this week. It's a 2 1/2 day seminar and it started at noon today. It's already amazing! I've learned a few things, or maybe was reminded of things, today in the first 4 hours. It's great.

Of course, it also makes me wonder if I am cut out to be a leader. I've had people telling me I need to put in for a big promotion that would put me in the higher roles at work. I'm hesitant for a lot of reasons...but that's immaterial right now.

See, Psych is on so I can't focus. :) I'll write more tomorrow. I'm sure I'll have more to say about the seminar, too.

Procrastination coming back to bite me in the ass

Since 2007 I have been participating as "photographer" for one of our kid camps we hold for work. Our employees and other employees around the state can send their kids to this camp for a week to learn and have fun and blah blah blah.

Well, this year there were two camps...one for 10-13 year olds and another for the older teens. I was excited to do this again because it gives me an opportunity to play with my camera and experiment with my limited photo skills.

Normally, there is an intern who helps with the photos and with putting the newsletter/yearbook together that gets sent to the kids. Well, this year, due to budget cuts, there was no intern so it all fell on me.

This wouldn't be a big deal except my time after the camps is busier than snot with my real job. And add on it my personal life of prepping for races and moving in with MS and vacations to see awesome people...and time has quickly passed and the yearbooks are not done.

I finally got a deadline from the head of the department last week...but sadly it's for next Friday. I have a conference Wed-Fri so those days are out. Which basically left this past weekend. As of right now, I have half of one done. Uffda. I have a lot of work to do today and I'm struggling. ugh.

A thanksgiving kind of day

It's Thanksgiving and MS is working. I hate days like this. We did both have yesterday off so we enjoyed spending the afternoon together. My former 1st cousin died last Sunday and his funeral was yesterday.* So we spent the afternoon watching movies and flipping channels on our extended cable (which I'm discovering is good and bad). I hate winter and the cold and wind and ice, but, as MS pointed out, it is good because then when we're both home we get to spend that time together instead of outside doing projects or yard work or stuff that has us "together" but apart.

Well, since he had to work and Mom is at her boyfriend's family (which, even after 16 years, sounds weird) and the rest of the siblings had things going on, we're having Thanksgiving tomorrow at YOB's. I offered to bring the pie, shocker, and so I made two pumpkin pies with a special recipe that I found online a couple years ago.

I have also been wanting to learn how to make bread. I learned eons ago back in Home Ec with the infamous Mrs. Wiese, but my attempts have always failed. So I thought I'd try again today since I had the time. They didn't turn out too bad, but I think I need to keep practicing, since practice makes perfect. My hope is that someday I'll get bread figured out well enough that it can become a staple - where I make it instead of us buying it. (healthier)

So it's been a pretty quiet day. Very cold and windy again outside, so I'm glad I stayed in. The rest of the weekend is supposed to be warmer so I'm hoping I can suck it up enough to get a run or two in. We need to decorate for Christmas yet, too. Maybe Sunday. :)

*Doug was my first cousin, Lorna's, husband. They had two kids around my age, so I kind of went to the funeral for them. Though he and Lorna divorced in the 80's I always liked Doug. He was a good man. He will be missed.

Not sure where to begin...again

Finnegan, begin again...

Have you ever had that problem where you've stopped doing something because other things got in the way but when you get to the point where you need to restart the thing you had stopped that you don't know how to start again?

So I ran the TC marathon in early October. I took some time off to recuperate, mostly because I hadn't trained well enough so I was a hurting unit. Then I decided that since I was going to move in with MS that maybe packing and moving boxes would be a good thing to do. So every extra moment was spent doing that which took me to the beginning of November.

Then I had nine days in a row of work which were intense and sucky, though good. So with all the extra time with work, running took a backseat. Then MS and I took a vacation, which was much needed, but despite the nice weather in Texas, I didn't run there either.

Now we're back and it's been a few days of recuperating from vacation. So now I need to get back running and working out. And I'm not sure how to start or where to begin. I had thought about pulling out the tights today to get a run in, but MS said the roads were slick from ice and to stay home. Of course, I'm supposed to meet up with Bridget to give her some bars for her PTO meeting tomorrow...but we'll see. I'm, wrongly, hoping the roads are a bit icy so she'll say no to me having to meet up with her, but I also hope they're okay so I can get rid of these bars. :)

But how do I start up again? It's cold out, so running is not a simple thing these days - you have to plan and dress and coordinate so you don't freeze your butt off or any appendages for that matter. It's not as simple as lacing up your shoes and stepping out the door.

I know, I know...I'm making excuses. I could run on the damned treadmill, but I hate the treadmill. But maybe that's what I have to do to do something. I do want to start the 100 pushups challenge and 200 situps challenge. MS wants to start up P90X again, but that's an early morning or late night. I don't know what to do...

For now, since I haven't done a damn thing this weekend (we got full cable at the house, so now I have my TBS and TNT back...good but bad) I need to get my getting-fatter-by-the-minute ass off the couch and clean the house.

The stars at night are big and bright

MS and I finally got a real vacation in this year. Well, he'd say we've had two since we went to Hawaii in January and did take a long weekend to see K&E back in May. But for me, this was finally a real one - it wasn't work related and it wasn't just a weekend, though it was a weekend. Anyway...

We headed down to Texas on Friday. K&E had moved there for new jobs and school, so this was our first trip to their new digs. We had talked about flying but because of the cost we opted to drive. Plus, MS has some Navy friends who live in OK so we were able to stop and see them too. It was a long drive though.

Friday night we had dinner with MS's friends at an Irish pub. The food wasn't that great but the fellowship was awesome. We met up with Brian and Belinda and their daughter and Mike and Kathy. 4 hours later we were able to head the rest of the way to K&E, getting us in around 1am.

Saturday E and his brother had a "thing" they had to do, so we and K took Nika to the park to play. I'm not sure who had more fun, Nika or MS. He had a lot of trouble this weekend getting "stuck" but Nika was quick to help out.

Saturday afternoon we went to the TCU vs SDSU game. It was the last home game for them before they made some major updates to the stadium. We got to go to a tailgate where we sampled some delicious chips that we need to find now. :) The game was a little stressful as TCU wasn't quite with it, but it still was a good time. K took a nice picture of Nika, MS and me (see bottom photo).

Sunday we went to an awesome restaurant called Gloria's. That was the best Salvadorian food I have ever had. I had the Pollo Asado Combinado so I could try plantains and yucca for the first time...not bad. It also had Mexican food so Mike had a big plate of yumminess as well. And it was just the right amount. I didn't feel overly full like I sometimes do, especially after having chips and salsa. Mmmmm

"Hey, Nika, pull my finger!"

Monday MS and I went to the Dallas Holocaust Museum. It was kind of on a whim because our original intention was to go to the Sixth Floor Museum, but as we were waiting for it to open we walked around a square and saw a sign for the Holocaust Museum. We, being the great planners we are, thought we'd do that first and then do the other one before we had to head back. Well, after 2 1/2 hours at the HM we realized we wouldn't have time for both, but the time was well spent. That was an incredible museum and we probably could have spent the entire afternoon there. So the Sixth Floor will have to wait until the next trip. We did see the Grassy Noll though, so I guess that's something. :)

After we got back I took some family pics of K&E and Nika so K can write their All Saint's letter. :) Then we went to Joe T Garcia's which, again and not surprising, had great food. I ate way too much here but it was so yummy. And the atmosphere! WOW! The building is a block long with a lot of outdoor/patio seating with fountains and heaters. It was great.

Of course we were sad to leave Tuesday AM but it was necessary. We had thrown Nika's life pattern out of loop for too long (not to mention K&E's as well). So Tuesday, after surviving rush hour traffic with an hour back up because of a multi-car accident, we drove back to OK to meet up with Brian and Mike again. Mike wanted to show us his place and I was in love. The pantry alone was almost enough to make me ask if he'd adopt me. It was huge! With a sliding door! And oodles of shelf space!! Then I saw the kitchen! *sigh* They're basement was incredible and gave MS and I a few ideas for our place too. It was fun to hang out with the military boys even though half the time they were using Navy-speak so I didn't quite understand what they were saying. It was fun though.

I can't wait to go back to visit them again and add in Ernie next time. We'll have to plan better. :)

A sincere thank you

To all the military men and women who paved the way for those who serve to protect our freedoms today. God bless you all.

Veteran's Day Mash Up

For a holiday I did a lot. :) Normally my holidays are days to curl up and watch movies or something.

Instead, I got my comforter dry cleaned, caught up with some billing paperwork with my dentist, went to work and got a few last minute things completed, had lunch with Bridget, got a new haircut ("I have bangs! My hair is so now."), shopped at VS, checked out some new pillows and priced out the better ones to pick up next week, went to Target and survived, picked up a new tire gauge, bought popcorn (mmm...Poppy's), had supper with Mom, picked up some groceries (forgetting the sugar...again!), and fueled up Morty. THEN I got home and put the comforter in the aired out duvet and put it on the guest room bed, did a load of laundry and now, once TBBT is over, I will be getting ready to go see the Nikanator.

I'm tired. Now I need popcorn. But a few more chores to be done first...

Lack of writing

My life has been a mess lately! Well, not a mess, but a lot of work. Today starts a nice vacation which is greatly needed. Of course it's Veteran's Day, which is why I have today off. I'll take it. :)

So today, I thank and honor all those who have come before us...those men and women who stepped up to defend our country to keep us free and safe...those men and women who continue to serve in a time where the military isn't always appreciated as they used to be.

Thank you, to a few: Kevin, Morris, Sam, Arnie, Elroy, Hans, Lane, Ron, Wayne, Eric, Sallie, Casey, Di, Ruth, Matt, Russ, Reid, Dean, RJ, Tom, Kristin, Bridget, Leroy, Joey, Jon, Brian, and so many more...

Well, that's a total fail

So this month has already been crazy enough that I didn't succeed at NaBloPoMo. Silly me. Friday and Saturday were nuts though. This week has kicked my ass. I have been in bed and asleep before nine all week! I don't know what's going on ... if it's the weather getting colder, my job kicking my butt, or what. I just know, I have been tired.

Today is a short day at work at least. So I'm going to go to the grocery store to pick up "supplies" and then head home and have some baking therapy time. MS is working so it's just me tonight, which is good. I need a little me time. :) Not that I don't love having MS around, because I do, but it is nice to have some time just to myself. He gets his man cave...I get some nights to myself. :)

Maybe 50 feet

I think other than going to lunch with my awesome sweetie today, I went maybe 50 feet from my office door...and that was only to go to the bathroom. Otherwise I was chained to my desk all day long trying to do all the paperwork and get caught up from the last two days of meetings and fun.

My sweetie has been wonderful these last few days, very supportive, having dinner ready for us when I get home, and taking care of me. He even made me tea to drink on the way into work this morning "to warm me up and keep me from getting sick". He's so wonderful and some days I really don't feel like I deserve his goodness, but I'm very thankful for it and feel very blessed. Love you, honey!

And since I'm typing this with his head on my shoulder, I'm going to keep this short so I can spend some quality time with him before I have to go to sleep. :)

Meeting Wednesday

I hate Wednesdays. They used to be awesome when I worked at LS and the chapel service would have communion and the awesome sacristan's would bring me the leftover bread and wine for me to partake in the Eucharist and finish off the extras. :)

But now, Wednesday's = meetings. And it's not just one. It's 4. In a row. That go on and on. By 11:30 this morning I was cranky, hungry and crabby. But even the afternoon with no meetings is spent catching up...checking and answering the 9 voice messages, numerous emails and trying to finish the projects that need to be completed. It's frustrating.

These are the nights that I like to work late, but these are also the nights that I just want to go home. It doesn't help when the two people that just rub me the wrong way both came into my office at 4:30. I know they both mean well, but one is just high maintenance and the other is NOT clear in what she asks so when I try to explain to her she gets upset, answers back what she asked, which is incorrect, and then I have to explain it again. This goes round and round until I backtrack on what she asked, clarify what she actually has in her head that she's not saying but I'm finally figuring out, and then she can leave. Ugh.

I have 30 minutes til I can leave, but I don't know that I should. I have so much to get done and this mini-break of writing is a much needed release. Hopefully the next 30 minutes will be very productive. Crossing fingers!!!

Closed Door

There are few rules in my office, which would make sense if you see the normal state of frazzledness that it embarks. But one of the most crucial ones is this: "It's not about you."

Yeah, it makes no sense, but let me 'splain. My office shares a door with my boss. Often people will go in to chat with him about very important and private matters. So they shut the door. For the first few months of my probationary period I would get very nervous. Did I do something wrong? What did I do? Crap, what's going to happen now? And so on...yes, I had a touch of paranoia.

Well, I have trained almost everyone now that when they close the adjoining door to lean in and say, "It's not about you." This works well. I can breathe a sigh of relief and they get to chuckle at it. :) Because honestly, it's rarely if ever about me. I'm a peon and not important to waste breath on. Plus if it WAS about me, they'd be pulling me in to the office too.

So today when Boss2 is meeting with a colleague and suddenly they shut the door, I get a little concerned. His door doesn't really fall under the "rules of the house" but it would have been nice. Especially since it wouldn't surprise me if they were talking about me. So my paranoia went up a bit. And especially when just before the door was shut my colleague stepped out and asked me which leadership program I'm attending next month and right after I answered, the door shut.

I hate this feeling. I know I shouldn't worry about it, but I do. It's just one of those things, I guess. I like them both and enjoy working with them, but when I'm not in the loop I get worried.

It is finished!

Finally! The apartment is empty, save the vacuum and a few little things. MS wants to steam clean the carpets this week so I'm leaving that stuff until later.

After we finished up the crap at the apartment, MS and I went to Despicable Me. I was so excited to finally see this movie. It wasn't Toy Story 3 caliber, but it was freaking funny. "It's so fuzzy!"

So today starts NaNoWriMo, which I am thinking I'm going to attempt this year. We'll see. If I can keep up with this writing, I should be able to do that too, though the plot thing might be a little rough. We'll see.

But NaBloPoMo has begun as well, and here it is, my first post. On to the next!

Almost there

Yesterday was insane. MS and I, and my Mom after I conned her into helping, spent the AM packing up most of the rest of my apartment and loading up MS's truck and borrowed trailer. God bless that man; he let me go to lunch with my sister and niece while he unloaded it all. I had pulled a muscle in my back yesterday AM before we started so I was hurting. What a doll.

Then he came back after I finished with Lisa & Em and we packed up his truck and my car with some more. We were both so tired we went to bed at 8:30. Sheesh.

Today, Mom came over after church and breakfast and helped me with the icky part - cleaning. We got my bedroom done and the blinds in the living room cleaned off, and the windows washed. It's amazing how dirty my apartment became...of course I hadn't really been living in it for awhile, and I had left my window open. :)

Tomorrow will be the final step. Finish the living room, bath and kitchen. Vacuum and wash the floors and empty out the refrigerator. *sigh* It'll be good to have it finished so I can move forward completely.

I did it again

I did it. I signed up for NaBloPoMo for November again. I haven't been blogging on a regular basis but the challenge of November is to blog at least one post each day. I've been doing NaBloPoMo for a few years now. In fact, it's how I "met" several of my blog friends - Kat, Jill, ericjay - to name a few.

And in light of my last post, I decided I should sign up for this again. I love a challenge and this one I should be able to keep, even with a vacation in there and moving. At least I'll have things to write about. :)

Wow...where have I been?

I just got a little shock as I looked at my history and realized that I haven't been writing much at all this month (year). That's sad, because I like writing, but I don't have a good place to do it right now. Nor have I had the time.

After the marathon, I took a few days off from everything but work and then I started packing and boxing up my life so I could move to MS's. Every waking moment, it seems, has been devoted to packing and moving and resettling at his house. It's been great because I know the outcome will be my sanity of living in one place so I can focus on other important things in my life - like running.

But so far, I'm still packing. Well, not right now because I'm on a work trip. Blech. But time is running out. Not that my lease is up because it's not actually up until the end of November (a poor timing issue on my part), but I really want to be out before Veteran's Day so I don't have to think about it the rest of November. MS and I have a trip planned (I need a vacation) and then he works every other day when we get back which doesn't leave a lot of time for packing and moving. Plus, I'm just ready to be done. D.U.N. DONE.

I'm really excited for this next chapter in my life and I think it's helping MS too. We've been in a Discardia mood - sorting, rearranging and organizing. We fixed up my office on Monday...MS spending 3 1/2 hours helping me clean, sort and reorganize. I love my updated digs! I've been really focused and motivated for work lately and it's rubbing off on MS. He spent the last two days going through all my kitchen stuff and all of his rearranging and organizing our kitchen. Of course, he's putting things where it makes sense for him...but since I'm the baker/cook between us, I may have to move a few things to make it make sense for me. :) It's not like I'd rearrange the garage. :)

But back to the original thought for this blog. I'm hoping that once I can get settled I can get back to writing a bit each night. I miss it, and it's good therapy for my soul. :) Plus if I ever want to really write, I need to get into a groove and do it on a regular basis. It's just like running. You can't just lace up shoes and expect to finish a marathon without training. Well, you can...but it won't be pretty. Likewise with writing. While I can just start typing and a product would be produced, it won't be pretty. And I wouldn't mind if I could get something else pretty in my life.

4 weeks or 28 days

4 weeks ago was the last day I drank a soda (save for two sips of a diet coke during the Expo when I had left my water bottle in the car). So 4 weeks ago, September 26, to be exact, was the last day I savored the taste of a Diet Mt Dew (several, in fact). But because the marathon was to be run the following Sunday I stopped drinking soda so I could focus on hydration, hydration, hydration.

Well, I haven't had a soda since. And I haven't really missed it, which is good. I thought maybe I'd lose some weight this month since I'm taking in oodles of soda anymore but I haven't lost a pound...in fact I think I've gained (but I haven't been exercising regularly either).

But it occurred to me this weekend that me giving up soda didn't really do me much good, other than saving my pocketbook. I drank diet pop only so I wasn't taking in extra calories. And when I was drinking soda I'd drink more water too because after awhile the 'sugary' taste was too much so I'd drink water to compensate. But now just drinking water is getting annoying so I'm drinking Crystal Lite, which has calories.

So where was the benefit?

Random catchup

I know it's been a long time since I've written. Things have been pretty crazy in my world as of late. Lots of changes and busier than snot.

So I'm moving in with MS and so the last two weeks have been filled with work, packing, moving boxes, packing some more, sleep, work some more, pack more, move more, taking a day off to spend with Mom, and more packing.

It's an exciting time, one I never thought I'd be doing (this way), but I am excited for it. For the last year I've basically been living here anyway, so making it "official" is just paperwork, and moving the big stuff. :) It will make my life super simpler - living in one place is so much better than living in 2 places.

It's been fun to see how we merge our stuff together. I have more kitchen stuff, surprise, surprise, than MS has so merging that has been interesting. It's nice to have a big kitchen (finally!) where it's easier to bake. :) Life is good.

Anyway, in addition to packing and moving numerous boxes, work has been crazy busy. I reread my performance indicators today for my yearly evaluation and it's humbling (and a bit scary) to realize that I haven't been living up to my standards as of late. I need to get this move finished and get better at focusing on work. Once I can be settled in my brain and physically I can then better focus on work.

Life is good, folks. I'm a happy camper. :)

Is it Ideal?

As many of you know I struggle with my weight, and since it's a requirement for my job to stay in shape, I'm always looking for what's going to work best.

For awhile I was strong into South Beach, but I have found that it's tough to stay on Phase I when I'm running. Two weeks of no bread or fruit does not a happy girl make - especially when I'm also burning calories. The extra burn of calories does help the weight loss, but I'm so crabby and unhappy it's not really worth it.

The latest craze at my workplace is the Ideal Protein diet. It's incredible the results my friends have had with it, but I really question some of it's sanity. For one - their Phase I is until you get 95 or 95% of your goal weight loss (that can be quite a long time). For two - you can't have milk or cheese...no dairy. Instead you take a supplement, which concerns me because while supplements are good, they also aren't fully effective. And what's wrong with milk? For three - it's a bunch of pre-packaged bars and shakes for some of your meals. Where's the real food?

I don't get it, but I'm a little jealous of the results my friends are getting. I'm just not sure I'm strong enough to stay that focused. And, as one of my friends is finding, what happens once you meet your goal? Then it's all on you to maintain because there is no maintaining program.

I don't know. I need to exercise more, but I need a plan to do it. Running is great but it's not burning what I need. And eating better would be a good thing...maybe it's time to go back on the Beach, even temporarily.

TCM 2010

Lots of lessons learned from this race. I'm surprised I finished. It was truly amazing considering all the crap that led up to this one. So let's recap...

So marathon weekend began Friday night. I had to work late and we didn't get supper until almost 8:30. Ugh. Packing/laundry all the fun stuff took place and I thought I was ready.

Saturday, I headed in to work to clean up a few things and MS finished packing up the car. He met me at work and we left my car there. The drive up was uneventful, other than we were cutting it close on time so we didn't eat lunch (and breakfast was a granola bar). This is where my horrid need to follow the plan I set up came into play and proved detrimental.

I had my per-race massage scheduled at 1230 with Keith. I snagged the bathroom while he was finishing setting up so I wasn't there when he and MS met. MS mentioned his lower-back issue that he has had constantly (and the chiropractor isn't helping - shocker!) so Keith asked if he could borrow MS for 10 minutes. I said sure. Then he came out and needed 30 minutes (MS is a mess). So that shortened my massage - which was okay, I didn't need that much.

So then we busted down to the hotel to check in (opposite side of the city) and traffic was horrendous. So a quick check in and back up to Keith's for kinesio taping - which took an hour longer than we had planned and we still didn't do what were supposed to (which hindered me Sunday). And we still hadn't eaten. At one point I was standing up arm stretched out to my side and my head turned the other way and I became nauseated and had to lie down...twice. Luckily Keith had some yogurt, which helped. It brought my sugar levels back up so I was clear headed again.

Then it was off to pick up my packet. It was 6pm and the expo closed at 7pm. Ugh. Not how I had this planned, but in hindsight the packet pickup was EMPTY so I was able to get in and out super quick, and the handouts were numerous because people were trying to get rid of their stuff. We got 3 cups from the Fargo Marathon (an option for next year) and handfuls of mini Larabars. Mmmmmm.

Then back to the hotel to drop off the stuff and time for food. It was after 7 before we got to TGIFriday's (which seemed a better option than Chevy's or IHOP), but they were sooooo sllllooooowwwww. We finally got our food at almost 8, snarfed what we could and then I took half of mine back to the room for Sunday AM (but forgot a fork so I didn't eat it anyway).

We were so tired. We both showered and then crashed around 9:30 and crash we did. I was exhausted, nutrition starved, and very nervous for Sunday.

Sunday AM - I woke at 4am, wide awake. At 4:22 I got up to go to the bathroom, then went back to bed to cuddle. I need cuddling because I felt like I could throw up. A little before 5 I got up and got ready. Of course I ended up realizing that I had forgotten a few important things - my pace tat, my accelerade, my endurox, to name a few. But I figured I could do without them. MS walked me to the train station (I asked for that so he could know where to go and so I would have a little last encouragement before I had to head to the start.

The marathon changed some of the procedures at the Dome, which threw me off a bit. They had specific areas open, which I got in, but not before they did a bag check. Then they changed some of the times for races (at least it seemed) so that threw me off too. But I did what I could to keep things normal for me.

Anyway, I got to the corral and, trying to be optimistic, I started at approximately 5:15. They didn't have a 5:15 pace team this year so I just started between 5 and 5:30. 5:30 was the only pace team with balloons, which was weird too, but I figured if I could stay in front of them for most of the race, I'd be okay.

I missed the national anthem - some young guy singing way too low so I heard the last few measures. The wheelers took off and they gave them a 10 minute head start (which I think was different). So the elite didn't start until 8:05, and we were just standing there trying to stay loose. Another weird thing - you know how people always take off running as soon as they can and then have to stop and walk then run, then walk before they hit the official start line? Yeah...that didn't happen. Everyone.Walked. And maybe 10 feet before the line we started running. Weird!

I felt pretty good the first few miles, in fact, I only walked through the water stop between 2&3, otherwise I ran for the first 6, albeit slow. I saw MS at 4 and dropped my throw-away shirt and ear guard there and kept going. Then MS met me at 6 I think and from there on he stayed with me the entire race - riding ahead and taking pictures or getting gel shots and Gatorade ready for me. My legs were tight so I took those meeting moments to stretch.

The downfall - I was passed by 5:30 between 10 and 11. This was my breakdown point - I started crying and just tried to keep running. I tried to stay with the pace team but I couldn't even do that. MS kept encouraging me, "This is your race, honey. Run YOUR race." He was right but it took awhile for me to get there. I kept imagining Year 1 when the sweep bus came up behind me a few miles later and how I didn't want that to happen again. I may not have trained well, but I didn't want to fail either. And the sweep bus would be a total fail.

It took me 3 miles to get there. MS would ride ahead and see where 5:30 was and then time how long I was behind them. That helped. And thank God for math because I was able to do the math to figure out if I could still finish under 6 or not. That helped. So after that it was just a matter of keeping moving forward. MS was worried about the 2pm deadline, but I was on my clock so I was just looking for under 6 hours. With his help, I made both.

Splits sucked:
Mile 1: 10:57
Mile 2&3: 23:06
Mile 4: 11:35
Mile 5: 11:22
Mile 6: 12:41
Mile 7: 13:57
Mile 8: 12:29
Mile 9: 13:35
Mile 10: 12:30
Mile 11: 13:00
Mile 12: 13:16
Mile 13: 13:51
Mile 14: 13:44
Mile 15: 12:42
Mile 16: 14:55
Mile 17: 13:28
Mile 18: 14:57
Mile 19: 13:37
Mile 20: 14:28
Mile 21: 15:07
Mile 22: 14:29
Mile 23: 16:22
Mile 24: 15:08
Mile 25: 14:09
Mile 26: 13:39
Last .2: 2:36

I guess the good thing is the last 4 miles were negative splits. But there's not a whole lot of consistency here. And I did finish: 5:51.46 (official chip time)

I felt like a running virgin for this race - I wore brand new race clothes (I had washed them at least) but they actually didn't cause problems. But I forgot so many of the obvious things - eating, for one; my during race process - I guessed the whole way; my recovery plan - I didn't have one; and so many other things. Just the lack of training was awful. I have to be more diligent for the next one.

I kept thanking MS for his support and he said at one point, "This is something you're passionate about, I'm glad to be here to support you." Which made me feel about this / / big since it is something I'm passionate about but I didn't make it a priority this year.

So if I'm going to run Austin, or Fargo, or Akron, or something other than TC next year (though it would be fun to run TC next year since it's the 30th year), I need to come up with a game plan. I have a week to recovery and make my plan. Crossing fingers I can come up with a decent one that will be doable and workable and successful. I need to do better the next time. I have to!

New Year Resolutions

Today is a new year in my world, so I thought it might be good for me to come up with some resolutions. I'm not usually good at keeping these (who is, really?), but I need something to help me refocus my life. Maybe a fresh start will be good.

Granted, I'm running a marathon in a couple days, so most of these will start next week, but I want to get them out there.

So...in no particular order:

- Learn to walk down the hallways of buildings without looking into every, single office to see who's in there. A friend suggested blinders. It might help.

- Stop talking about my diet and exercising at work with others. That's my problem and no one else.

- No FB or yahoo at work until 9am (we're allowed to look at them, but I usually start right when I get to work). This will be tough, but I know I can do it.

- FOCUS at work!! Must keep laser focus!!

- Set up a better filing system at work and use it. This is a work in progress. Maybe I need to just purge everything and start over. That's wishful thinking.

- Start and complete the 100Pushups challenge. My upper body strength sucks.

- Honestly workout, with weights and cardio, and lose the 20 pounds I need to drop. A lot of the gals in my building are on the Ideal Protein diet - which sounds great until you find you can't have milk ever again, only a calcium supplement. That doesn't work for me. I love me some milk - especially after running. So I need to refocus my workout routine and work all aspects, not just cardio.

- Declutter my life at home. This should be happening with the most-likely upcoming move...though it could end up like my last move where I just throw everything in a box and it sits there for 3 years. :)

- Declutter at work. I have a lot of extra stuff just lying around. Not good.

- Redecorate at work. I've had the same photos/artwork up since I got my new furniture December 2007. It's time for a change.

- Write more. I miss writing.

- Bake more. I miss baking, too.

- Run more. I miss running, too. Well...I run a lot, but I need to keep at that. I'm thinking of running more than one marathon next year. E's inticed me with the Austin Marathon in February...so I'll need to keep with my training after this one in two days if I'm going to do that. Would be fun and good for me too. :)

This is a start. I'm sure I'll think of more. But for now, this is where I am.

Root to Rise (reprinted)

Kristin Armstrong writes for Runner's World and while I haven't had a lot of time to read my favorite mags lately, this article struck me. It's not really about running, but life. And since RW online doesn't let me share to blogger, I'm copying and pasting ('cause that's what I do).

Root to Rise
08/31/2010 5:02 PM
Today was a double sweat day. I ran early this morning, which created tension (in my body, not my mind – especially after mile repeats yesterday, whew) and I went to yoga this afternoon, to release tension. I think I am now so accustomed to sweating that my body goes from matte to full-on-open-pore- drainage in less than five minutes.

I stood on my mat, stretched out in triangle pose, with sweat pouring down my arm and plopping onto my towel; the teacher asked us to turn, firmly plant our hands and kick one leg up. "Push against the floor, use it to ground yourself. Remember you have to root to rise." With that single sentence, my zen concentration went out the window and I started obsessing over her words. I breathed and worked my way through all the poses, gladly flopping onto my soggy towel at the end of class for a blissful savasana. I wanted to be still and ponder the idea of rooting to rise.

Rooting to rise is a visual, physical concept in yoga, when what you are trying to do requires strength or balance. You literally have to push against the floor and channel your core strength in order to extend through the pose (and, if you are me, hold it without toppling over). You can see and feel your response to the applied energy of rooting your body. But rooting to rise is a viable lesson even in less visible scenarios.

It applies to marathon training, painstakingly building a deep base in order to have something to draw upon when the time comes to rise to the occasion of race day. With our longest run coming up this weekend (22 miles), I have already started to go there in my mind, preparing myself by collecting energy and harnessing positive thoughts. I subconsciously do this when I have something challenging on the horizon, making sure I am firmly rooted for the test ahead. I am not one to reach high for something without doing the work to ensure my feet are balanced firmly beneath me. I believe in the notion that the best fun is the kind you earn.

Rooting to rise pertains to my mothering, digging deep and trying to enrich the soil that nourishes my children. It's my job to root them; their job to rise. Only deep roots will enable them to survive the seasons of life ahead. It would be so easy to get caught up in the shuffle of school and activities, thinking I'm doing it right without stopping to consider if I'm doing the right things. My goal is to shepherd these children into adulthood, not just to school and sports. If I am not consciously rooting myself, my actions and choices will not stem from a place of intent.

It relates to friendship, and the investments made in the roots of my relationships. Relationships that are fruitful, or offer a canopy of shade, are the ones that have been deeply rooted and well tended. When crisis hits, the relationships that rise to surround you are the ones you have poured your heart into during ordinary times.

The time to root is today. Whether it means a strong and steady yoga pose, a hard tempo run, dinner alone with your spouse, reading a story with your child, signing up for that class you have always wanted to take, or making time for a friend, the way to root is to stretch, to go deeper, to invest your heart.

Crazy busy

It has been insane in the Moe household. Between work, running/training, more work, canning and trying to maintain a relationship, things have been crazy. I'm looking forward to October when the marathon is over, at least that will curb a bit of the training (though MS and I have talked about going to the Navy Ball next year so we can curb the training completely ... we both have a few pounds to lose before that).

I hoping my life will calm down eventually. Is that just a pipe dream?

Salsa and weekend

So last week we made and canned salsa with MS's aunt and uncle. I was really skeptical about how it would turn out, but we tried it last night and it wasn't too bad. It had a little more cayenne pepper than I would have liked, but luckily I have a lot more tomatoes so I can try another type.

It has been a really nice weekend. Saturday, MS and I went for a long bike ride/run (respectively). After vegging and recuperating, we went into town and did a little shopping. We priced out deep freezes for the house. The freezer upstairs has been packed full of ice packs and food and as sales come around MS always wants to "stock up". So I convinced him if we're going to keep stock piling we need a bigger freezer.

Sunday, after a mini workout, MS went to work and I went to church, did some laundry, then canned minestrone soup. I keep seeing these commercials for Stouffer's stuffed melt and soup with tomato bisque so I'm thinking I might need to find a recipe for that and can that next. :)

Yesterday, MS and I went for a bike/run again (this is where he bikes and I run). We went 4.5 and I'm realizing just how out of shape I am. I'll get there, but boy I'm starting late. Then we ventured into town again before the storm hit and bought the deep freeze, carried it downstairs and set it up.

All in all, it's been a great weekend. I still have today off but I'm going to go into work for awhile and try to get some things accomplished for the week. It'll be a busy one again, culminating with my fitness test on Friday which seems to be a fail unless I get really lucky that morning and a half marathon on Sunday. Prayers are welcome! :)

Canning, Running, and Recipes

So I know I haven't written in a long while. I have had things going on, but I haven't had a chance to blog. For one, I have been really busy - good busy, but still busy. And for two, and the bigger reason, my computer has been messed up royally.

A few weeks back i was heading on a trip and so I had the comm nazi's at work clean up my personal computer and load a couple programs I needed for work. That was all well and good and Kenny G did a great job. But he also removed one of my paid-for AntiVirus programs and loaded a free one we use at work. Fine and good. It worked for a week...then i got a virus. Then it disappeared by the time I got my computer home for him to check on...then it came back but worse. So he fixed it. At least I thought he had, but it took a couple reboots for it to actually take.

Now I'm up and running again, literally and figuratively.

After my last post MS and I spent some time catching up since I had been gone for so long. Then I went to the Guthrie to see "The Scottsboro Boys" which is by far one of the best musicals I have seen in a long time. And the bonus is that after it leaves the Guthrie it's heading to Broadway! So I've seen it before Broadway snobs! YAY!

Last Monday, MS and I went to his aunt and uncle's for a lesson in canning. We made salsa and had a great time. We finished earlier than we thought we would and so Dianne and I made a couple apple pies too. I made the crust from scratch, natch, and she peeled the apples. Basically I made it though and it turned out really well. It was nice to know that I could do that from memory.

Then a busy busy week was upon me. Trainings, catch-up from being gone, budget woes, meetings, planning, etc. It was busy but great. I attempted salsa on my own one night while MS was away and that was a pain...I highly recommend doing that with friends. It took forever and the recipe I used (different from the Monday one) only yielded 3 pints. Blech. Oh well.

On top of all of that I realized that I am 5 weeks from a marathon and 2 from a half, so I got back in my running groove. I started up at the right time of year - no humidity and great temps. I got in 20 miles last week (7.5 yesterday) and took today off to give my knees a break. It starts back up tomorrow.

I really need to drop 10 pounds in the next 4 weeks so i'll be at last year's running weight. I'd be happy with 7, but 10 would be awesome.

Today I canned minestrone soup. Not sure if that was a smart thing, but it seemed to work. We'll have to try it in a week or so and see how if it still tastes as good as it smelled when I was making it.

Which leads me to my big question - what do all my cooking friends out there do for recipe gathering and storing and filing? I have a ton - books, internet print-outs, magazines, calendars, etc - and I'm looking for a good way to file them. I thought about setting up a blog and tagging them so I could access them anywhere, and I might still do that with a big disclaimer that these aren't mine but just reprinted and probably without permission. But looking for other methods too. Any ideas?