Arctic Blast '09

It happens every year. We get an ice storm. We usually only have one, and it's usually not that bad. But then every few years...it's terrible. I don't think this one is going to be that bad. But we like to act like it might. I'm telling you, the lines at the grocery store are long. People stocking up on bottled water, milk and groceries. Like we might all be house bound for a few days. (it's actually a very good excuse to eat comfort foods - yum, soup!)

Shoot. It hadn't iced like that since '79. But we love to imagine it might. (we don't get much weather drama save for tornado season and counting the 30+ days of 100+ degree temps in the the summer) The phrase, "Freeze Warning" sends us into action. We cover our plants, let the faucets drip (you know, in case it freezes IN OUR HOMES) and buy sand bags for the back of our pickups. The city puts the sand trucks on alert.

We prepare as if it might do this.

When actually, we'll probably only get a little of this.

Schools close, businesses open late. I got sent home early today with instructions not to come in until 10 tomorrow. I can do that.

But we love it. We almost NEVER get snow, so ice is as close to winter as we see. We're Texans. Go ahead, laugh. You know that secretly y'all are all jealous that it was 75 on Friday. :)

Lazy Sunday, wake up in the late afternoon

Okay, so I didn't wake up in the afternoon. But for the first time since last Sunday I didn't wake up before 5 am! So that counts as lazy. (but in a good way)

You know how some runs are good, some are great and some are, well, just awful? I had several great runs last week. Thursday was Speed Class. I ran a 7:36 loop. (just under a mile) And I felt like I just won the Olympics. For reals y'all. It feels good to go fast (and to get faster!) Saturday morning was the long run. On the schedule was 8 miles. 8 windy miles in the darkness. We dropped Michelle off at her house after about 8 and then ran to Panera. And as we were stretching, waiting for Michelle to arrive (she rested and then drove to breakfast) we talked about the extra mileage. All in all it was around 10 and I totally felt like I could have kept going. And you know what, I could have! I love that feeling when you've had a good, long run, but you still have energy for more. It's times like that, that I really feel like a runner. You know what I mean? What makes you feel like a runner?

I felt like a runner this day! (and then I felt very cold as I got in the Pacific Ocean in October!)

I'm signed up for 2 halves this spring. Cowtown a the end of February and a brand new Rock to Victory two weeks later. I'm looking for a third. Something local. I really, really, really don't want to run Big D. That was my first half and while I thought it was great then, I've since realized, that race stinks. They don't call it the "loneliest half" for nothing. It starts out great, but the last few miles are through a pretty run down, disenfranchised, desolate part of Dallas. So, no crowds, no aid stations and only run down, burnt out, crack houses to look at. Now, does that sound appealing to you? Here in Texas, you gotta get your halves out the way pretty early in Spring, or you run the risk of getting very warm. I'm not a fan of running in 90 degree temps. And past mid April, that's what you are going to get. I might be willing to travel if I can find cheap airfare. What's going on in your neck of the woods in late March/April? Sell me on it!



I've been working in the yard today, trimming trees, getting ready for Spring. Yes, y'all, Spring comes pretty early here. My Bradford Pears are already sprouting new leaves. The poor things get confused. It's in the 80's for a few days, then it drops back down to the 30's. Then back again. My poor daffodils just keep blooming and dying. They don't know what to think!



I'm off to Home Depot to buy some pastic tarp. Ah, the joys of home ownership. I might even look at hot water heaters while I'm there. No buy January is soo to end. And if the banging sounds coming from our current water heater are any indication, it's about time for it to retire!

One Hundred

It’s finally here. 100.

I’ve been anxious about this post for quite a while now. Several times I’ve gotten to post 98, then gone back and deleted a few just so I’d have more time. Oh the pressure! I’ve seen some host a give way to celebrate Post 100. But I’ve got nothing cool to give away. (unless you count the overalls from Post 97) So scratch that. One blogger printed out her first 100 posts and had them bound for all of perpetuity. I don’t have a printer, so that’s not going to happen. (but what a cool idea!)

What do to? Then it hit me; I’ll share my 2009 1st Quarter Fitness Challenge with you.

Introducing the 100 Push Up Challenge. Here’s my chance to turn my spaghetti arms into pythons – Dwayne Johnson, watch out, I’ll be a Rooty Poo no more! It’s as simple as following the thrice weekly training program. And as runners, we know that you can accomplish ANYTHING with a solid training program.

So next week begins my quest to do 100 consecutive pushups (real deal pushup, not girlie style) at the end of six weeks. I’m pumped! (or I will be)There is even a brochure that you can print out, fold up to carry in your wallet. You know, in case the urge to calesthenate (can I make that a word) hits you in a random location. Don’t want to be without your training plan! I also taped one inside the medicine cabinet – right next to my half marathon schedule. I keep a (pink) marker in the cabinet so I can cross of each day. Keeps me accountable.

Print off your schedule and do it with me! There is a 200 sit up challenge too that I'm also going to do, but it doesn't fit in with the 100 theme.

Oh, and neither does this photo, but I just SO love to wrap gifts. This one turned out even better than I expected to I just had to share. It's hard to tell in the photo, but the pink is striee. I made the gift tag with some scrapbook paper that I got for 15 cents on sale - and I have plenty left for more fun tags! I love pink and black! (and pink & brown, and pink & green, and pink & taupe and pink &...)

My run this morning was awesome. Oh, except for the part that I thought Sarah was going to get attacked by Stranger Danger. So we meet at the trail at 5 am and it's dark. (duh) We park in the neighborhood across from the trail. And we all wait to get out of our cars until we are all there. (partly because we are safe, and partly because we are lazy) So this morning I park behind Sarah and I'm getting everything together, putting on my light, taking my key off the ring so I can stuff it in my tiny pocket...and I see this guy get out of his car over in the parking lot of the apartment building across the street. He is clearly facing us, and starts to very slowly amble towards the trail. Still with his eyes on us (so I imagine, I can't see his eyes, just his shilouette) he leaves the trail, in slow motion it seems, and starts heading across the street. At us. I frantically start texting Sarah, "What is that guy doing? DON'T get out of the car!" But she DID get out of the car. And the Boogie Man just keeps getting closer. And I see Sarah reach for her phone to get my text. Oh no! She's going to get got and I'm going to have to kick this guy's astronaut!

Yeah. It was Kat. And since Sarah was closer than I was (and apparently has much better vision) she recognized her. I was all worked up into Attack the Attacker mode and didn't consider it might be one of US. Now why Kat parked in a different spot, I don't know. Why she wore a stocking cap, and not a ball cap, when she has NEVER worn a stocking cap before is a mystery. Sheesh. I'm just glad it WAS her. I wasn't really in a crime fighting mood this morning. I left my golden lasso at home.

Have a little Faith

-

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr

I’m so excited about what the future holds for our nation! Tomorrow, I will witness history being made. Tomorrow, will be a story I will tell for generations. Tomorrow, will be one of those moments I’ll remember forever. Tomorrow, has finally come.

And to think, Dr. King dreamed this for us so long ago. I can’t say his dream has completely been fulfilled, but we are certainly moving closer. Praise God!

To be sure, there are always going to voters that are disappointed, voters that feel they are not going to be represented. But that’s the great thing about how America works, if you are not completely satisfied, you’ll get a new guy (or gal!) in just a few years. But as I sit in my office and hear the dissenters around me, as I hear those speak of someone who “isn’t really a Believer,” I ask you this. How Christian is Christian enough? God isn’t a Republican. He’s not a Democrat, nor a member of the Green Party. 2 Corinthians 12 speaks pretty clearly against factions. So let’s not draw party lines when it comes to faith. Maybe you didn’t vote for him, but please, oh please, don’t start doubting his faith.

Instead, keep in mind that we are in a bad place right now. We are at war. Our economy is hurting. Our people are hurting. And it’s time for change. So have a little faith. Just try. Take that step in faith, even if you can’t see the whole staircase.

Thank you Rev King, thank you for your vision. I imagine that if you hadn’t been so violently taken from this world, you’d be speaking tomorrow. I Imagine the opportunity to hear your words spoken, once again, on the steps of the Lincoln monument. But I know, you are in the other world, witnessing history unfold along with us. And you knew it and believed it even before we did. And I remember your words:

“When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

First Run

So yes, I was a little slovenly and took a few days off. But on Saturday I hit the pavement again and busted out 7 miles in 1:15. It was humid and warm. But I got 'er done. So glad for my crew!

I met another boy while I was out running. He was out running with his parents. Don't worry, I told Hubs all about it and he's fine with possibly bringing another person into our relationship. This boy, Piper, used to be an athlete (a runner actually!) so we have a lot in common. Except he was a sprinter, not a distance runner. But still. Oh, and he's so beautiful! He career was cut short recently when he was attacked by a doberman. Poor guy has terrible wounds from his back to his chest and down his front leg. Yeah, I said front leg. He's a dog! What did you think?

What a precious poochie! He's living in foster care until he's well enough to be adopted through The Greyhound Adoption League. I talked with his foster mom at great length. Did you know greyhounds sleep 20+ hrs a day? That they are comfortable as house dog, prefer to be crated - because as athletes, they were always in crates when not racing? Sad, but makes for a good house dog for a lazy girl like me! They are also usually very social since they are accustomed to being at the track and around so many people. We aren't ready for a dog right now, but I'm def going to look further into greyhound adoption when the time comes. For now, I'm sending out best wishes to Piper as he recovers. I hope you find the perfect forever home, Piper!

As we are now in No Buy January...yes, something we do twice a year. No Buy Jan and No Buy July. We make no purchases that aren't necessity. Just a time to curb our spending and really focus on being good stewards of our earnings.

But boy, that makes me want to spend, spend, spend! Best part is, I'm usually over it by month's end. I got a new PB catalog the other day and I've enjoyed pouring over it. And they just may have what I've been wanting - new dining room chairs! The chairs we currently have are a mish mash of chairs we've accumulated over the years. You know, yard sales, garage sales and hand me downs. I've been fine with our shabbier than chic collection, but it feels time to have a grown up set. I vacillate between wanting something with a vintage look to match our dining table that I got at a garage sale and our "new" hutch from Hubs' g-ma. BUT I don't ever want our house to look too old lady, so I try to add a contemporary flare when I can. Here are my top picks in my imaginary shopping land.

So these Queen Anne style would look very nice with our current pieces. And I could easily customize the seat fabric. Mahogany would be the finish of choice. But I also like the painted white for a little more casual look.

BUT these parson's chairs are too cute! And I love the fabric slipcovers - and those could easily be changed out in the future. Heck, I could make new ones if I wanted. Plus, I like that they are contemporary. Again, avoiding the too grandma-ish look.

For now I'll enjoy shopping in my mind. It's certainly cheaper and saves gas!