Tuesday, October 28, 2008

It's Soggy Outside



Or so my kindergartener says. And that wasn't even coached, she came up with that all by herself. Yep, we're back to the early morning fog. I can't decide if I like or hate it. It's beautiful, but it's chilly. After a few miles, it DOES feel good...but it takes some time to get used to. And I hate that first step outta the door into it. I end up putting on capri running leggings when I really should have just worn shorts because I get too hot half way through the run.



But what I'm a complaining about? I didn't even go running this morning. Only because I'll be hitting the track tonight for Tuesday Night Track. I'll run there and back. In my capri tights.



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Only a coupla days 'till Halloween. I got a sh*tload of candy for the event. I won't need as much as I got but I'm buying for leftovers for the kids. We'll have candy treats for 1/2 a year now. Seriously I need to fill them up on something because they seem to be in growth spurts now. I can't believe how much a skinny little kindergartner can put away. Where does it go? Hubby suggested that we rebuild the house gingerbread style so that they can just break off pieces when they are hungry. I'm considering it.



Oh and I saw some lawn fairies a few nights ago....

Monday, October 27, 2008

So I've Been Tagged



Angie tagged me. That means I have to list 6 different things about myself that others may not know. Here it goes -



1. I love bagpipes. I don't know why, but I love bagpipe music. I really dig running to it. Some of my favorites are a band called Enter the Haggis, and The Great Big Sea.


2. I haven't been anywhere in ages but in my earlier life I traveled to 32 different countries. Mostly to archeaological and nature sites. My dad worked for an airline so my folks took advantage of the benefits.


3. I almost was a ballet dancer. I had been a dancer since the age of 3. I was really good and I performed a lot through my highschool years. Decided it was better for me to go to college and to stop starving myself.


4. I love pirates and ninjas.

5. I speak German

6. I'm arachnaphobic but I appreciate and I'm fascinated by spiders. This leads Hubby to show me every picture and movie on uTube of large exotic spiders that he finds. I won't kill them - if I find a tarantula I'll shew it across the road...but I won't touch it.

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Running Report - Very little. But actually it kind of feels good to take a break. I went out for an hour on Saturday. Maybe I'll get out this evening for a bit. Right now I'm putting family first and it's taking a lot of stress out of my life. But I do miss the trails! I'll be back, I promise!


Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Down Time

I had a super fun run with my littlest one (she was in the baby jogger) yesterday. We checked out all of the cool Halloween decorations. The most amazing one is a two-story high spider in a web covering the entire front of a house. I kid you not.

That run really left me wanting more. I wanted to get out there and get those miles in that I need for Stinson. I was ready. I was able.

Then I woke up this morning.

Sniffly. Sore throat. Achy.

There's not a damn thing I can do. I have a hot cup of tea, a book and the TV. I applied to some jobs...

And then the weather! Does it have to be scrumptiously perfect out when I'm sick? I thought of laying down outside on the grass for a nap in the sun...but I feel a bit vulnerable out there. I could get a nut buried in my ear or something.

There's nothing more aggravating than forced rest.

Friday, October 17, 2008







Home Improvement

Well, if I haven't been running lots at least I've been getting SOMETHING done. I just completed a two day oven installation extravaganza. I got to spend a lot of time with my dad who is Mr. Fixit, owns every tool known to man and knows how to build anything and everything. Seriously. I haven't found a mechanism that he can figure out and fix. He's a "retired" mechanic.
Next it's back to replastering my walls and then painting them. Then I'll rip out the carpets and refinish the floors.


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Today I also picked up Simba the cat's ashes. That opened up wounds all over again. I still miss him everyday and catch myself looking for him. I can't believe that all I have left of him is pictures, ashes, some saved fur and a clay pawprint. He was too young to go, I fully expected him to be with us for a long time. It's times like these that I'm really banking on an afterlife to keep myself sane. (Picture of Simba sleeping peacefully in the backyard a few weeks before his untimely death)


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Running today? Dunno. We finished the stove thing rather quickly, so maybe I'll get out before I go to volunteer at the animal shelter tonight. The whole Simba thing has gotten me down. I'm sure that going out for a trail run would make me feel better, it's just a matter of actually getting myself out there.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Always When I Don't Have my Camera

My hubby, (to be known as Hub from this point on) is baffled by why I carry a camera with me on my runs. Hub was looking for pictures in my files this weekend and saw all of my trail pics and was perplexed. He couldn't believe that I carried a camera with me on my last race. Hub is officially out of the loop and on his way to geezerhood.

Yesterday I went on a 6 miler or so in the neighborhood. I was trying to get something in with some flats, as when I run trails around here it's only hills or mountains all of the time. It's great for training, and I'm glad that we have such rugged terrain but sometimes the bod needs a break. And I wanted to work on some technique and maybe a little bit of my non-existant speed. I didn't bring my camera. I thought about it because there are some cute decorations up around the neighborhood, but the less to drag around with me the better.

So up in the hills (I can't avoid them totally) in one of the woodsier neighboorhoods I passed by a house with a long walkway to the front door. Right near the street in the middle of the walkway stood a large statue of a buck. I thought it was a wierd place to put a statue...then it turned its head and watched me trot by. I stopped. He was quite lovely. Beautiful healthy coat, shiny wet nose and multiple points on his antlers. Behind him stood a more nervous doe. The three of us admired each other for at least a minute before the buck was startled by a walker coming down the road. It's been a long time since I've seen deer in the neighborhood, it was so nice to see them again. And it would have been an awsome picture, so of course I didn't have my camera with me.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Still Not Really on the Wagon

Well I did go for that 6 mile run. And it was good. But I didn't go for that trail run the next day. Nor for a run today either. And I just don't feel like it.

I'm hoping to cattle prod myself outta bed tomorrow morning for a run. At least I've been productive in other ways, lotsa house work and even some freelance writing (woohoo!). But I'm going to start getting fat and lazy soon if I don't do something.

I wish I had decided to end my seaon after STTS. But Noooooo! I had to sign up for Stinson. So I have a little wee bit over a month to get ready for another 50k. Gah.

On a happier note it appears that little N may be potty trained. Finally. Well, that's something good at least.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Gettin' Back on the Wagon...

I haven't blogged since my race! I've thought a lot about blogging and what I'd say, but just didn't get around to it. Didn't want to turn on the ole 'puter for awhile.

Running has been sporadic in the past two weeks. First the family got hit by the first back-to-school virus, so that slowed everyone down for a few days. And then we tragically lost one of our dear kitty cats when he was hit by a car. We're still devasted. He was quite a character and we loved him dearly. It's hard to write about. I just haven't felt like doing much, running included.

But, in a few minutes I'll get out for a morning run. I've shoved everyone else off to work and school. I'll probably get in a 6 miler or so. Tomorrow I'll get out on the trails again.

Last night we had a thank you dinner for Frank our volunteer Tuesday night track coach. He's "retiring" from this duty.

So many things seem to be changing - changes in the the track group, loosing our dear kitty, etc. - and I don't like it. I crave some stability and sameness. I know that nothing is permanent but change...but I don't think I'm coping so well with it. All of the changes in my life are piling on top of each other and I'd just like them to stop. I've always been one to roll with the punches pretty effectively but I'd just like to call uncle on them for now. Enough is enough!